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Delighted Kevin Wilson today branded the 4-0 win at Whitby Town as one of the most significant in the brief history of Ilkeston FC.
As the emerging Ilkeston team grew in confidence, so they took control of the game and four goals in the space of 16 second half minutes - two apiece for skipper Laurie Wilson and Bermudian international Antwan Russell - left them celebrating their biggest away win of the season.
No less than seven of the players involved are products of the New Manor Ground Academy and the Ilkeston boss said: "The events confirm very clearly to us that we are working along the right lines."
He added: "We have to be very, very careful about keeping things in perspective but it is hard not to get carried away after a performance like that.
"You are always taking a chance when you play so many youngsters at the same time. But I had faith in them to make the step up - and they didn't let me down."
The challenge became even harder when goalkeeper Scott Low took a nasty bang on the head in the opening minutes. With no substitute 'keeper on the bench, top-scorer Aaron Hooton took over the goal while Low was taken to hospital in Scarborough.
But the youngsters, operating with the three-at-the-back system they use regularly in the Youth Alliance, protected the stand-in goalkeeper superbly and apart from a last minute effort that struck the crossbar, he seldom looked like being beaten.
Added Wilson: "As I told the players in the dressing room afterwards, there are times as a manager when you feel immensely proud of your players and that was certainly one of those occasions.
"If ever there were any doubts about whether we are building this football club the right way, they have now been completely removed. We are still at the 'tip of the iceberg' stage but the skill and spirit they showed on the night were absolutely fantastic."
Matt Richards successfully completed 80 minutes in his comeback from injury while Hooton and Laurie Wilson were the on only regular first-team starters on duty.
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