Boss seeks points to ease drop fears

Robins manager Nigel Jemson prepared his squad for the visit of high-flying neighbours Eastwood with the prediction that "a couple of wins" will erase relegation worries.
Apart from injured winger Dougie Wade, he has a full squad ready for the Good Friday visit of the Badgers, kick-off 7.45pm.

Ilkeston Town have won their last two home games in the Unibond Premier Division and came back from Ossett Town with a creditable draw on Saturday.

Eastwood cemented their play-off place with a 5-2 win over Ashton United, pushing them one spot above the relegation zone. The Badgers came from behind to score four goals in the last 25 minutes after striker Marc Smith had come off the substitutes' bench.

Jemson said: "Eastwood will be a tough game and they got a good result on Saturday. But we have played against them twice this season and have done well."

On August Monday, the Robins drew 0-0 at Coronation Park and might have beaten their hosts, who had just been promoted from Unibond Division One. At that time, Ilkeston were full of optimism but have ended up struggling while Eastwood have proved to be upwardly mobile.

In the League Cup quarter final at the New Manor Ground, the sides drew 1-1 but Eastwood went through on penalties.

Officials are hoping the match will attract the biggest gate of the season to the New Manor Ground, with both sides keen for points.

Jemson is also anticipating a hard game at Lincoln United on Easter Monday, kick-off 3pm. The hosts are at the foot of the table and eight points behind the Robins with the same number of games left.

The manager said: "We need a couple more wins and we will be alright. Six or seven points and we will be safe.

"Lincoln are bottom. No games are easy because everyone has something to fight for and go out to win," said Jemson. Centre back Barry Woolley was ill and unable to travel to Ossett.

With persistent rain, Jemson said the pitch got worse and hampered his team's attempts to pass the ball. Ossett had a player dismissed in the first five minutes, prompting the hosts to adopt a defensive mode.

He added: "We tried to walk the ball into the net and gave away a sloppy goal but we dominated in the second half and hadthree or four decent chances to win the game."

While takeover moves are ongoing, the Robins had some good news commercially with a sponsorship deal informally agreed with Toyota dealers Ron Brooks, the Ilkeston-based firm which has previously supported the club.

This will come into effect next season and follows talks with club director David Morgan, who said: "We greatly appreciate this."

He said Belfield Furnishings had helped the club financially since the death of saviour and chairman Paul Millership in November.

Morgan, the former Huddersfield defender, said many people are looking forward to the visit of Eastwood and added: "We have our relegation issue and they are going well.

"It is funny how football throws up intriguing matches like this. I like to see all the local sides do well. That includes Eastwood as well as Alfreton and Hucknall. It is nice for the area."