Midweek football roundup

It was the busiest midweek we've had so far this season, with games taking place from Monday through to Wednesday night.

Ilkeston Town kicked off the midweek schedule with their Midland Football League Premier Division fixture at home to Coventry United, with three first-half goals from Jamie Walker, Tim Hopkinson and Elliot Reeves handing the Robins a 3-1 victory over their counterparts to keep them top of the Premier Division table.

Tuesday night's results for the MFL's other Derbyshire sides weren't so positive, with both Long Eaton United and South Normanton Athletic falling to defeats. Long Eaton were edged out 2-1 at Boldmere St. Michael's to fall to just one place above South Normanton, who remain pointless and bottom of the Premier Division table after a 4-1 hammering by visitors Lye Town.

In the Sky Bet Championship, Frank Lampard's Derby finally returned to winning ways after consecutive defeats by Leeds and Millwall. Two stunning goals in the space of nine minutes from Joe Ledley and Tom Lawrence were enough to separate the Rams from their Ipswich counterparts and hand them their first home win against the Tractor Boys in 11 outings.

It was a completely winless night for Derbyshire teams in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League. In the Premier Division, Matlock were unable to make it six points from a possible six after their 4-0 win on Saturday, with two late goals from Michael Williams and Jake Phillips helping the Gladiators fight back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Scarborough Athletic. Elsewhere, a 2-0 defeat to Gainsborough Trinity left Mickleover with one point on the board after two games played, and Buxton too remain winless but at least picked up a point in a 0-0 draw at Nantwich Town after an opening day defeat by Whitby.

In the West Division, Glossop North End remain pointless after a single goal from the Hillmen's Jack Burke was outscored by Prescot Cables who ran away 3-1 victors and left the Hillmen third-bottom of the West Division table.

Gresley supporters perhaps enjoyed the most entertaining fixture of the night, with the Moatmen battling with visitors Stocksbridge Park Steels to a 3-3 draw in the NPL East Division. Eric Graves's eighth minute opener and an own-goal from Stocksbridge's Bradley Beatson gave Gresley an early two-goal advantage, before a Scott Ruthven double drew the visitors level before the break. The turnaround was completed on the hour mark by Jamie Barrett but Kieran O'Connell came to the hosts' rescue only minutes later to split the points; not a bad first home game of the season.

On Wednesday night, other East Division side Belper were unable to build on their opening day victory over Morpeth, and were well beaten in their visit to Lincoln United who put five past the Nailers who only managed to net twice. Jacob Sturgess and George Milner were the scorers for Belper, whilst braces for Lincoln's Paul Grimes and Matthew Cotton built an unassailable lead for the hosts.

The other team to play on Wednesday were Staveley, who continued their impressive start to their Northern Counties East League Premier Division campaign with a 3-0 home victory over Hemsworth Miners Welfare. Robson Doolan, Matthew Davies and Jahmal Riley all netted for the Trojans to earn another convincing victory on the back of a 5-0 thrashing over Harrogate Railway Athletic, and to keep them within touching distance of the top of the table.