It was a slow start from Eastwood, but the deadlock was broken in the 15th minute. A long clearance from goalkeeper Sam Tomlinson was flicked on by Welbourn into the path of Commons, who powered past his marker before firing across goal. His effort was bundled home by Reuben Clowes to give Eastwood the early lead.

Ilkeston responded strongly and deservedly levelled in the 29th minute. Eastwood struggled to clear their lines from a corner, and after several failed attempts the ball eventually dropped to an Ilkeston player eight yards out. His crisp volley flew through a crowded box, leaving Tomlinson unsighted and unable to react.

Moments later, Owen Hayes had a golden chance to restore Eastwood’s advantage, but his header sailed over the bar. That miss gave Ilkeston momentum going into the break, with the tie finely poised at 1-1.

After half-time, Eastwood improved but the game remained evenly matched. Both sides worked hard in midfield, but clear chances were at a premium.

The decisive moment came in the 75th minute. Relentless pressing from Maliki Shaw forced an Ilkeston mistake, allowing Thomas Hodgkinson to pounce and quickly feed Shaw on the flank. His cross wasn’t fully dealt with, and Shaw reacted sharply to poke the ball into the path of Toby Woodward, who bent a superb finish into the bottom corner to restore Eastwood’s lead.
Ilkeston pushed late on, but Eastwood stood firm to secure victory.

Man of the Match: Toby Woodward — composed and dominant in midfield, using the ball intelligently throughout and capping his performance with the all-important winning goal.

Eastwood may not have been at their free-flowing best, but the result showed character and quality when it mattered, ensuring progression to the next round of the FA Youth Cup.

Final Score: Ilkeston Town 1-2 Eastwood CFC
Scorers: Clowes (15’), Woodward (75’)