Rai Simons further enhanced his burgeoning reputation with two goals in Ilkeston’s 5-2 win away to Mansfield Town in the Conference Youth Alliance League Cup today.

The teenage striker, who signed a two-year deal at the club last summer not long after making his Bermuda debut at the NatWest Island Games, had the chance to cap off a fine performance with a hat-trick, but spurned his opportunity from the penalty spot.

Derbyshire-based Ilkeston will meet Luton Town in the next round of the competition on Wednesday.

The visiting side took the lead in the eighth minute when Ryan Osborne found space about 20 yards from goal and unleashed an unstoppable shot that arrowed into the top corner.

Mansfield equalised in the 28th minute with a header from a free kick.

Ilkeston deservedly restored their advantage soon after the break when Simons followed in after the goalkeeper could only parry an Akil Wright shot.

The visiting side moved into a two-goal lead when Wright’s driven shot nestled into the bottom corner and took a stranglehold on the match when Simons got his second, with a back-post header that finished off a fine passing move.

Mansfield reduced the arrears directly from a free kick, but Ilkeston added another in the 63rd minute when Harry Williams headed in a Callum Chettle free kick.

Antwan Russell and Lejaun Simons, Simons’s Bermudian team-mates at Ilkeston, have joined Mickleover Sports on loan.

Both players have been farmed out to the Evo Stik Northern Premier First Division South side, who play in the league below Ilkeston, to gain match practice.

Russell, formerly of Robin Hood, won a penalty in Mickleover’s 2-0 victory away to Bedworth United at the weekend.