Ilkeston 3
Harriers 5

HARRIERS maintained their FA Trophy aspirations after surviving a scare in a game packed with goals and kamikaze defending on Tuesday night.

The Aggborough side produced an attack-minded but all too cavalier performance in Derbyshire.

The away team struggled to kill-off their spirited opponents from the Unibond League Premier Division, before Stefan Moore’s late goal made sure Harriers will take on York City at Aggborough on Saturday, January 31 in round three.

The visitor’s inability to protect a two-goal cushion twice must have left manager Mark Yates scratching his head as his normally reliable back four had a bad day at the office.

But he must have been delighted that his side found some of the attacking spark which had dimmed during December.

He will also have noticed the compelling message sent out by Moore, who linked up well with Justin Richards and secured a hard fought victory with his late strike.

Ilkeston started brightly and Lee Baker blocked Marc Newsham’s shot after tricky winger Sam Duncum had got the better of Keith Lowe on the left wing.

But Richards produced a bit of magic in the 18th minute to grab his first goal in six games.

The big forward turned David Haggerty and sent in a 20-yard chip with Robins keeper Chris Adamson left.

The former West Bromwich Albion shot-stopper misjudged the flight of the ball and was rooted to the spot when it dipped under the bar at the final moment.

Ilkeston had actually started well but Harriers’ extra quality was the difference and Brian Smikle made it 2-0 in the 20th minute after a flowing passing move.

But the home side replied in the 26th minute when dangerman Duncum’s low cross caught out the away defence and Tom Cahill swept the ball beyond keeper Adam Bartlett.

Moore came close to adding a third for Harriers when he turned sharply in the area but was blocked by Adamson.

Harriers’ made it 3-1 in the 51st minute when Martin Brittain curled in a low free-kick that flew past Adamson.

But hopes that the game was safe were dashed when Harriers were caught out on the hour mark.

Newsham raced between defenders Mark Creighton and Martin Riley and finished well to make it 3-2.

The away side were placed under increasing pressure by the hosts but still posed a threat on the break.

Brittain stung Adamson’s palms after a Moore inspired counter-attack as the game opened up into a rip-roaring end-to-end affair.

Russ Penn restored Harriers’ two-goal advantage in the 68th minute when the England C international headed into the back of the net after Adamson had initially blocked his rising 15-yard effort.

But the away side’s inability to protect their lead was evident and Cahill made them pay for more sloppy defending in the 74th minute when his looping header caught Bartlett out.

The goal sparked a sustained assault by the home team but luck was on Harriers’ side.

They survived a fright when substitute Anthony Howell’s cross hit both posts before being cleared off the line by Creighton in the 80th minute.

Moore then killed off Ilkeston’s hopes of a giant-killing seconds later as he drove to the edge of the box and lashed a shot into the bottom right hand corner.

Harriers: Bartlett 5; Baker 5; Creighton 6; Riley 5; Lowe 5; Smikle 6; Ferrell 6; Penn 6; Brittain 6 (McDermott, 72); MOORE 8 (Jones, 91); Richards 7 (Barnes-Homer, 72). Unused substitutes: Knights; Coleman.

Ilkeston: Adamson: Church; Hurst; Hooks; Haggerty; Murphy; Istead (Thompson 90); Pringle; Cahill; Newsham (Douglas, 72); Duncum (Howell, 72).

Unused substitutes: Douglas; Thompson; Howell; Wild; Haystead.

Referee: Paul Tierney. Attendance: 401

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