Long trip for Robins in FA Trophy

Ilkeston FC have been drawn away at Whitby Town in the FA Trophy second qualifying round as a reward for their 1-0 first qualifying round win at Stourbridge on Saturday.

We will make the long trip to the east coast on Saturday October 27 to face the side currently bottom of the Evo-Stik Premier Division.

The Seasiders have taken just two points from their first eight games but are nevertheless sure to provide Kevin Wilson’s men with a stern test.

They were 3-1 winners in their first qualifying round at Chorley at the weekend with Steven Snaith (2) and Shane Henry on target.

“Whitby have had a little bit of a resurgence with some decent results in the cup, which will have given them a lift,” said the manager (pictured).

“It’s never easy in any game at this level, especially when it is away and a long trip such as this.

“But we are well aware of the old saying that ‘if you fail to prepare, then you prepare to fail’, so we will prepare right and we will be ready.

“We have some big games coming up before then, but it is one we will certainly look forward to when the time comes.”

Meanwhile, we will hope to make further progress in the FA Cup this weekend when hosting Evo-Stik Division One South side Gresley at the New Manor Ground in a third qualifying round tie.

Coalville Town and Belper Town have already been defeated by the Robins in earlier rounds.

Wilson added: “Ideally we would have gone into this run of cup games with more points in the bag and us higher up in the league table.

“The games we have lost in the league have been by one goal, but at least at Stourbridge on Saturday it was the other way around.”