For 25 minutes of this game, Bradford Park Avenue swamped Ilkeston and could have been at least three goals in front.

But if you don't take your chances away from home, you can be punished - and Avenue were!

Manager Gary Brook abandoned his wingers on the narrower pitch, leaving Dean Calcutt and Liam Flynn on the bench. Liam Brompton was brought in at right back and club captain and centre half Dean Jones was left out of the squad.

Former Nottingham Forest star Nigel Jemson, the Ilkeston manager, gave himself a rare start - and scored the home side's crucial second goal.

Avenue began the game like a team

possessed and created six chances in the first 15 minutes. This was in stark contrast to the side that was unable to create a

single chance of note at home to bottom club Leek Town last Saturday.

First Curtis Bernard tore through the Ilkeston defence after three minutes and thundered a shot against the crossbar.

Then, after Avenue keeper Craig Parry had saved a point-blank header from Jemson, Tom Agus had a far-post header saved from a great Brompton cross.

Brompton again caused problems when he fired in another cross which Tom Greaves got on the end of but the young striker's shot was deflected over the bar with what looked suspiciously like a hand.

Danny Walsh, skipper for the day, had a free-kick tipped away by Ben Scott before a close-range effort by Bernard was again well saved. Steve Oleksewycz also went close to opening the scoring.

This was beginning to resemble the Alamo but the best save of the game came at the other end minutes later when Parry flung himself to his left to beat out a vicious John Burns volley.

Avenue's system of using Brompton and Brook Newton as attacking full backs was working but Avenue had nothing to show for their endeavour at half-time.

The second half was a different matter. Ilkeston, having got out of jail, tightened up at the back and suddenly began to look menacing. But it was a large slice of luck which brought them their first goal.

Brompton slipped to let Mick Goddard have a free run in on goal and the centre forward looked a couple of yards offside as he went on to round Parry and stroke the ball into the empty net.

Then after 60 minutes came the killer blow, Ilkeston pouring salt on the wound with a soft second goal.

With Parry rooted to his goal-line as a corner whistled in, Jemson was on hand to nod the ball home.

Brook responded with a triple substitution - Calcutt, Flynn and Phil Hadland coming on for Greaves, Oleksewycz and Greg Challender.

The introduction of wingers did not really work. Bernard almost got himself into a goal-scoring opportunity with a fine run and Newton had a long-range effort tipped over but Avenue had lost their edge - and with it three more points.

Having not won since October 29 at Burscough, Avenue now desperately need a morale-boosting victory at Ossett Town on Boxing Day.

Brook said: "I thought the first half-hour we should have been four up. We had two blatant penalties turned down. When those decisions go against you, it is a different game.

"At half-time I said to the players 'just keep going'. I thought surely we would get a goal but it didn't work out that way.

"The lads are down and a few home truths have been said. If we don't get our act together, starting at Ossett, we are going to lose touch."