Our defence of the Derbyshire Senior Cup commenced on Wednesday night as we ran out 3-1 winners against Clay Cross Town at the NYR Stadium.
The scoreline was level at the break, with the Robins initially struggling to break down a resolute Millers' backline.
Jay Glover's excellent strike gave us the lead immediately after the restart, before Zac Hibbard restored parity five minutes later. However, two clinical strikes in three minutes from Dylan Reason and Anthony Dwyer were enough to put the game to bed.
Ryan Hindley's men were unlucky to not take the lead after nine minutes, with Dwyer being thwarted from close range after an excellent delivery from Tom Jennings.
The deadlock was once again nearly broken just four minutes later by Ilkeston, with a Luke Cox header being cleared off the line following some excellent work by Ash Hunter.
The latter then saw a finish chalked off for offside after he lifted an effort over Will Dean, but the forward timed his run just a little too late.
Clay Cross then had a couple of breakthroughs in quick succession, firstly forcing Jason Alexander to scoop the ball off his line, before clipping the bar with an effort not long after.
After coming so close during the first half, we found the opener just two minutes after the restart. Reason set the ball down for Glover, who excellently fired into the corner from the edge of the box.
The hosts found an equaliser just six minutes later, as Hibbard's fierce strike took a deflection and left Jason Alexander with little chance.
Dwyer, who has come up trumps on many occasions this season restored the lead just three minutes later as he powered a header past Dean from a sensational Hunter delivery.
Reason then notched his second goal in as many games after 59 minutes, as he received a pass from Jennings, before hitting an effort first time from distance, beating the keeper at his near post.
The two goals in three minutes seemed to knock the stuffing out of Clay Cross, as Ilkeston saw out the victory well, despite Cox being sent off late on.
We return to action on Saturday, as we make the journey to Staffordshire to face Leek Town at Harrison Park in NPL Premier Division action, (3pm KO).