Valley put in a performance to be proud of in seeing off higher level opposition at the New Manor Ground last Saturday - just twenty four hours after the departure of manager Gary Mills.

Mills' assistant Craig Adams took charge of the side in Derbyshire and lined them up showing just one change from the disappointing home defeat to Romulus five days earlier - with Niall Cooper stepping in between the sticks for Jamie McAlindon.

Town were under the cosh for the first quarter an hour of the game though, and the hosts took a deserved lead with just a minute and half on the clock, after Cooper had dashed out of his penalty to challenge the onrushing Lee Ndlovu.

However the Ilkeston front man quickly went past the keeper and trickled his shot over the line from about fifteen yards out.

The home side did not stop there, having chance after chance and causing much anxiety amongst the Rugby defence.

Striker Charlie Coulson, Matt Baker and Ndlovu again could all have extended their lead in the early stages, with Marcus Harkness also going close with a powerful low strike on 26 minutes.

However Rugby gradually weathered the storm and settled in the game, before levelling things up when Steve Towers robbed the ball off JJ Blake to release David Kolodynski.

The Valley striker raced to the byeline, before squaring back to Towers - whose shot took a wicked deflection off Baker on its way past Brazilian goalkeeper Evandro Rachoni.

Buoyed by their decent end to the first period, Town then went into the lead midway through the second when the tricky and dangerous Callum Powell played in Kolodynski - who showed great composure to wrongfoot his marker and score past the helpless Rachoni.

It was all-square again in the 76th minute though, when Michael Williams rose the highest in a crowded penalty area to head home Harness's perfectly delivered cross.

However, Rugby were not to be denied their place in the next round, soon dragging themselves back in front when a huge goal kick from Cooper searched for Kolodynski, and in the confusion of trying to get the ball clear, Ilkeston defender Joe Doyle inexplicably headed the ball beyond the reach of Rachoni.

Ilkeston threw numbers forward in the remaining ten minutes or so, but could not penetrate a solid Rugby defence.

The final whistle brought wild celebrations from the fans who had witnessed a cracking cup performance, which was also watched by Scotland manager Gordon Strachan -whose son Gavin manages Ilkeston.

Valley Line-up: Cooper; Walker, Kelly, Rowley, Ryan; Parker, Warburton, Clifton, Towers; Kolodynski, Powell (Whiteside). Subs not used: Holloway, Thompson, Mullarkey. Booked: Kolodynski, Ryan.

Ilkeston line-up: Rachoni, Doyle, Luto, Blake, Burgess, Baker, Harness, Williams, Ndlovu, Edwards, Coulson.