SECOND placed Studley produced a super second half show to sink much fancied Ilkeston Town 3-1 in Midland League Division One.

Having been strictly second best throughout the first half, Studley turned matters around after the break with a sumptuous second half display.

Victory was made all the more sweeter as Ilkeston brought a large travelling army of supporters who were silenced by the final whistle.

Studley boss Keith Draper admitted: "We could have been put to bed after the first 45 minutes as Ilkeston gave us a footballing lesson and we were lucky only to be 1-0 down at half time.

"But as bad as we were in the first half, we took the game to them after the break and looked a completely different side.

"Chris Cowley levelled with a deft touch and then Andy Nicol scored from the penalty spot after being brought down himself.

"Then we sucked them in for the third goal before hitting them on the counter attack with three swift passed for Chris Cowley to score his second."

Ilkeston were reduced to 10 men in the second half after Gareth Evans had been the victim of a two-footed tackle but Draper insisted the sending off didn't make any difference.

Draper added: "Our goalkeeper Ryan Young took the full brunt of their supporters abuse for the entire 90 minutes. Ilkeston must have brought between 150 to 200 supporters and they were a rowdy lot.

"They gave Ryan a great deal of stick, especially in the first half when they were asking how on earth we got to top spot. To see Ryan celebrate at the end of the game was something to behold."

Despite this success, Studley stay second in the table, a point behind leaders Walsall Wood who also have a game in hand.

But Studley will look to close the gap this Saturday when they travel to Stafford Town.