Stamford struck four goals in a pulsating performance after the break by twice battling back from going a goal behind to maintain their strong start to the South East Division campaign.

Tendai Chitiza and Rob Morgan scored the goals that twice got Stamford level before super-subs Pearson Mwanyongo and Ollie Brown-Hill both netted in the final three minutes of a cracking contest at the Zeeco Stadium.

Ilkeston had earlier taken a first half lead and, after Stamford’s equaliser, had regained the advantage following a rare error from goalkeeper Dan Haystead.

But Stamford’s strong response left delighted manager Graham Drury hailing the togetherness of his new-look squad.

He said: “I didn’t know how were going to beat their goalkeeper at first because it could have been 4-1 at half-time.
“I don’t think they were bad misses either – it was unbelievable saves.
“I stayed really positive and buoyant at half-time though and said that I believed if we got the next goal then we would go on and win the game.
“I told the lads that we had to go and hunt that goal and we entered the box six times in the first four minutes of the second half.
“That really set the tone of how we were going to press and we were on the front foot for all 48 minutes of the second half.
“I did think Dan (Haystead) had gifted them it. I don’t know why he came out for it and you’re dreading it. You’re fearing the worst.
“But there is something in the back of your mind with this group of players that they don’t want to lose. They don’t want to get beat.
“To gel how it has as a whole squad with eight new faces in the starting line-up is just unbelievable.
“We were dominant in the press on the front foot and I thought the two centre halves – James Blunden and Sean Wright – were so strong.
“Dan was on the hero on Saturday. He’s made one mistake in I don’t know how long to give them lead again, but the reaction of the boys just shows the togetherness we’ve got.
“I can’t fault them and to win your first two games is a manager’s dream when you’re putting a new squad together.
“It’s so important to get points on the board early because you don’t really know each other yet.
“You can start seeing the little links with Tom Siddons and James Hicks though who are beginning to play off each other.
“That takes time to develop a partnership while the two boys in the wide area – Cosmos Matwasa and Tendai Chitiza – are both work-horses with skill.
“Pearson Mwanyongo has come on and done what he does. They wanted to double up on him and he goes and scores an unbelievable goal.
“We stayed positive from half-time and believed that we could do it. I was really proud of my changing room from both games.”

Stamford – whose starting line-up was unchanged from Saturday’s opening day success over Glossop North End – had been kept at bay in the opening period by an inspired display from Ilkeston goalkeeper Ross Durrant.

After a cagey opening 20 minutes with clear-cut chances at a premium, Chitiza was the first home player to be thwarted by Durrant after bursting into the box and firing in a shot which was repelled by the custodian.

Morgan was then denied from close range in the follow-up before Durrant flung himself at the feet of the incoming Tom Siddons to deny the Stamford striker a tap-in.

Durrant’s saves were to prove crucial as Ilkeston broke the deadlock with 10 minutes of the first half remaining.

Stamford had been enjoying their best spell of the half when from an Ilkeston raid the ball broke for Cameron Dear who rifled home an unstoppable finish into the bottom corner of Dan Haystead’s net.

The Daniels responded strongly with Durrant again saving well from Hicks before Siddons rifled into the side-netting after a scramble from the
resultant corner.

Siddons then finally got the better of Durrant in first half injury-time as he rose highest to power a header goalwards only for his effort to rattle the upright.

Stamford started the second half strongly and peppered the visiting goal before equalising in the 57th minute.

Cosmos Matwasa was the architect of the leveller as he chased down a lost cause before defying the presence of an Ilkeston defender to keep the ball in play on the byline.

Matwasa then calmly laid it back into the path of the in-coming Chitiza who slid home to get Stamford back on level terms.

There looked likely to only be one winner at this point as Stamford staged regular raids on the Ilkeston goal.

Hicks came closest to putting the Daniels in front only to be denied by a goalline clearance from Lavell White.

Chitiza then picked out a cross to find the marauding Cleveland Taylor who surged into the Ilkeston area, but unfortunately his shot flew over the Robins’ crossbar.

A rare Ilkeston foray into the Stamford half then saw the visitors regain the lead in bizarre circumstances with 15 minutes remaining.

Goalkeeper Haystead chose to charge out of his box to hunt down a long ball and, as a posse of players converged on the Stamford custodian, he smashed his clearance straight at Dear with the rebound flying off the Ilkeston attacker and into the home net.

That could have stung Stamford, but they took just two minutes to get back on level terms.

A long throw into the Ilkeston box caused a goalmouth scramble and Morgan pounced to ram the ball home from close range.

The momentum was now with Stamford and they added fresh attacking impetus by bringing on both Mwanyongo and Brown-Hill.

And, with three minutes remaining, Mwanyongo conjured up a moment of magic to put Stamford in front.

A sharp turn saw him shrug off a challenge before looking up and lifting an audacious shot over Durrant from well outside the box which left the in-form Ilkeston goalkeeper grasping at thin air.

There was still enough time for Stamford to add a fourth goal in the 90th minute as Brown-Hill started and finished the move which sealed the success.

Winning possession in the centre of the park, he played the ball into Hicks before latching onto the return pass and slotting home past the advancing Durrant to cap a memorable Daniels display.