DEPLETED Pershore Town proved no match for high-flying Ilkeston in a 4-0 defeat at King George Playing Fields.

Edged out 2-1 seven days earlier, Town had several key players missing with boss Quentin Townsend forced to field himself for the eighth time this season only to end up requiring stitches.

It was a nightmare start as Billy Bennett fired the visitors ahead within the opening exchanges, a lead extended when Malachi Lavelle-Moore headed home a deep cross 10 minutes in.

Pershore defended stoutly but struggled to get out of their own half with assistant manager Shaun Griffiths's one goal-bound effort hacked off the line.

The hosts made an encouraging start to the second half, forcing two corners in their best period of the game, but after 55 minutes the visitors broke away for Lavelle-Moore to net their third goal.

Jamie Walker added a fourth after 77 minutes to wrap up the points.