News

Saturday 13th April 2024 – Pitching In Northern Premier League

Ashton United  1  Ilkeston  Town 2

Ilkeston’s remarkable away form continued with a fine win against playoff contenders Ashton United. Goals from Jonathan Wafula and Tom Cursons sealed a third consecutive away victory. Curson’s goal was his 10th in 15 games. No wonder he is being watched by other clubs.

Despite heavy rain the pitch was declared playable and it was ilkeston who adapted better to the conditions. Jamie Walker created an early opportunity for Ilkeston with a brilliant burst forward and cross but the first real chance fell to Ashton’s Jason Gilchrist who sliced his shot wide from inside the area. At the other end Alex Marshall lifted the ball over Cooper and into the net with a spectacular lob but the offside flag had been raised. Ilkeston went ahead on the half hour mark following a brilliant double save by Ashton keeper Paul Cooper. Cursons created the opportunity when he intercepted the ball and drove forward down left before cutting inside. Cooper blocked his angled effort but ball fell to Wafula, Cooper then saved brilliantly from Wafula but the same player followed up again and Cooper was finally beaten. On 40 minutes Ilkeston nearly added a second when Cooper couldn’t hold Declan Eratt-Thompson’s cross which led to a frenzied scramble in the goalmouth. Just before half time Matt Yates was fortunate when his clearance hit an Ashton player and came back to him but Ilkeston were well worth their half time lead.

Ilkeston doubled their lead eight minutes into the second half when Lindon Meikle’s precision pass into the box was finished in style by Cursons. Ashton responded and Tom Marshall showed his defensive prowess stopping a dangerous attack with a superb tackle. Gilchrist headed into the side netting then Cooper did well to keep out a Cursons effort from the edge the area. Yates didn’t look like being beaten but Ashton pulled a goal back on 76 minutes. It was a fine effort drilled in by Benny Couto from just outside the area to set up a tense finish. But with 10 minutes normal time remaining Ashton were reduced to ten players when Gilchrist received a straight red for an elbowing offence when challenging for a high ball. With nothing to lose Ashton threw caution to the wind and chances came at  both ends. A fine save by Yates in stoppage time ensured Ilkeston registered their 9th away win of the season.

Written by John Attewell

Sat 6th April 2024

Northern Premier League

Ilkeston Town  3  Atherton Collieries  0

The Robins made it five games unbeaten against almost certain to be relegated Atherton Collieries. The strong wind didn’t help Atherton’s cause but Ilkeston were always in charge and the Colliers created very few chances. After a goalless first half Ilkeston clicked Into gear with second half goals from Tom Cursons, Callum Minkley and Ben Hutchinson.

Ilkeston started the match kicking into the wind and it was soon apparent that any high balls forward would be blown off course. Ilkeston had an early opportunity when Collieries keeper Tom Donaghy did well to block a close range shot from Jaiden White. Connor Dixon fired wide before Atherton won a corner which the wind blew behind. On 8 minutes The Colliers had a chance to strike first from a free kick just outside the area. It was a decent effort from Ethan Beckford but his shot just cleared the crossbar. Declan Eratt-Thompson had a shot blocked then Tom Marshall’s attempt drifted wide. Atherton seemed content to keep numbers in defence rather than take advantage of the wind and the first half ended goalless.

Cursons fired straight at Donaghy then Yates saved from Beckford as the second half started brightly. Cursons gave Ilkeston the lead on 50 minutes with a finish from White’s cross. Cursons was then close to scoring again but his header from a Larell King cross was well held by Donaghy. Eratt-Thompson sent over a superb in-swinging corner similar to the one he scored from in the last home game. This time it was headed off the line at the far post. A second Ilkeston goal arrived on 70 minutes and It was a great finish by Callum Minkley making it two in two games when he connected powerfully with a free kick into the box. Atherton briefly threatened a reply following a corner which Ilkeston had trouble clearing but the hosts were always more likely to score. Alex Marshall forced his way past a defender before his close range attempt was blocked. Donaghy had to race 40 yards out of his goal to clear from Cursons but in added time Ilkeston scored a third goal much to the annoyance of the Atherton keeper who thumped the ground in frustration. It came from a low free kick into the box after Jamie Walker had been fouled. Donaghy seemed to have it covered but Hutchinson’s contact took the ball past him and into the net.

Written by John Attewell
Photo by Jim Bolton

The Robins play their penultimate home game of the season this weekend at the Microlise New Manor Ground as we welcome Atherton Collieries.

CLICK HERE TO READ

Bank Holiday Monday 1st April 2024

Northern Premier League

Matlock Town 1 Ilkeston Town 2

Late goals by Jaiden White and Callum Minkley turned this Bank Holiday fixture Ilkeston’s way after It looked like a 74th minute rocket by John Johnston had won it for Matlock. A very wet pitch made it difficult to do anything but play the ball long and up until the first goal it looked like a stalemate.

Ilkeston were first to create an opportunity which Connor Dixon fired wide then a Matlock shot hit one of their own players at the other end. Tom Cursons dribbled past Myles Wright and put the ball in the net but the offside flag was raised. Yates saved well from Tavonga Kuleya and Dixon’s effort was too high. Kuleya had another crack from the edge of the box following a corner but it flew just wide of the angle of post and bar. Matlock had an optimistic penalty shout but it would have been soft if given. White was causing Matlock problems down the left and he set up chance for Jonathan Wafula which was saved. The Gladiators had another opportunity just before half time after Yates had made a brave save at the feet of Liam Hardy but couldn’t keep hold of the ball. A goalmouth scramble ensued but Ilkeston managed to clear and the first half ended goalless.

Matlock started the second half strongly with Yates having to tip a cross shot over the bar. Matlock skipper John Johnston then fired narrowly wide.after being found by Scott Boden. Wafula had a shot blocked then Wright did really well to claim Larell King’s teasing cross under the crossbar. Lindon Meikle created an opportunity for himself but saw his effort curl just wide. It was looking like one goal would win the game and on 75 minutes Johnston put Matlock ahead with a superb free kick into the top corner. Ilkeston then had a penalty appeal following an off the ball incident not seen by the referee. Jamie Walker had an effort blocked but on 83 minutes White smashed in the equaliser from close range. Both teams looked for a winner and Cursons nearly got it after picking up Yates’s long clearance but lifted his shot over the bar. Right on time Minkley rose to head home the winner and Ilkeston took all three points.

Written by – John Attewell

Photo by – Jim Bolton

Sat 30th March 2024 – Northern Premier League

Ilkeston Town  2  Bradford Park Avenue  2

Ilkeston came from 2-0 down to take a point from relegation threatened Bradford. The game started slowly but eventually came to life and in the end the result could have gone either way. 17 years old Koby Eratt-Thompson made his Ilkeston debut and his performance drew praise from manager Ian Deakin.

Ilkeston had the better of the opening exchanges but without causing Bradford too much anxiety. Liam Loughlan drew a save from Kieren Flavell, then Tom Cursons fired wide after being found by Lindon Meikle. It took Bradford 30 minutes to produce an effort on goal and they should have scored but  Matthew Yates did incredibly well to stop Adrien Thibaut’s point blank header. The  near miss saw the tempo increase and Bradford had another good opportunity when Jordan Preston had his effort blocked. Ilkeston went close when a great save from the visiting keeper denied Cursons at the back post before his follow up was also kept out. Just before half time Bradford took the lead through Thibaut. Jake Daniels cross was met by Thibaut’s close range header which Yates did well to block but the Bradford striker was alert enough to follow up and get the ball over the line.

The visItors started the second half well but it was ilkeston who created a chance for Callum Minkley which was saved by Flavell. Bradford were soon to double their lead though through a great finish from Edy Maieco who glided past two defenders before unleashing a fine effort from the edge of the area. Ilkeston made a flurry of changes in a bid to rescue the game and Cursons had a fine header saved by Flavell. With Ilkeston in the ascendancy it wasn’t long before the pressure told and the ever dangerous Cursons got one back with another superb header on 68 minutes. Flavell then made a brilliant save at full stretch from Connor Dixon  Cursons with a great turn and shot was next to be denied by Flavell but a goal was imminent. The equaliser came direct from a Declan Eratt-Thompson corner which curled in at the far post. Bradford were forced to change tactics to try to get the win they needed which made for a frantic last ten minutes. A Bradford effort went over the bar then Jaiden White went close for ilkeston. Bradford nearly grabbed the winner when the out-rushing Yates was beaten to the ball and saw the looping header almost go in. Then in added time Minkley’s header from Tom Marshall’s cross nearly won it for Ilkeston but was inches too high.

Written by John Attewell

Photo by John Rhodes

The Robins welcome Bradford Park Avenue to the Microlise New Manor Ground this weekend. After an impressive win at Guiseley last weekend, Ian Deakin will be hoping for three points to start our bank holiday.

Ilkeston Town v Bradford Park Avenue Programme

Saturday 23rd March 2024 – Pitching In Northern a Premier League

Guiseley AFC 1-2 Ilkeston Town

A goal in each half by Tom Cursons was enough to give Ilkeston a victory which avenged a 4-1 defeat at the NMG earlier in the season and put a dent in Guiseley’s playoff hopes.

The swirling wind caused problems but both sides produced early chances. Cursons had an opportunity for Ilkeston at the far post but put his shot into the side netting.  Ilkeston then had a penalty shout rejected when Cursons was put through by Connor Dixon before going down in the area under challenge. On 13 minutes Guiseley looked sure to score when Gabriel Johnson burst though. His shot was followed up by Kallan Murphy but Larell King got back to make a brilliant goal line block and saw the ball deflect safely into Matt Yates’s hands. Another chance came Guiseley’s way when Prince Ekpolo fired over after Yates had pushed away the original shot. On 24 minutes Tom Marshall was penalised for a foul on Murphy in the area. Leading scorer Johnson stepped up to take the penalty but saw his effort come back off the crossbar. Guiseley were made to pay for the miss as Ilkeston went straight down the other end to take the lead through a smart Cursons finish. There was a fierce response from Guiseley and Murphy had a chance but was off target before Jameel Ible scored an equaliser on 34 minutes when a corner wasn’t cleared. Guiseley bossed the remainder off the first half but the teams went in level.

After an even restart Guiseley gradually got on top and Ilkeston had to defend. Yates saved brilliantly from Liam Tongue then Jonathan Wafula back defending, produced an outstanding tackle inside Ilkeston’s area to deny Guiseley a real scoring opportunity. On 68 minutes Guiseley were really unlucky when a cross shot by Tongue hit the inside of the far post and rebounded into Yates’s hands. As in the first half, Guiseley’s misfortune was made worse when Cursons restored Ilkeston’s lead two minutes later.

Guiseley retaliated with fury but Ilkeston had another chance from a free kick in a central position which Tom Marshall fired wide. Guiseley continued to press but Ilkeston were defending for their lives and Yates was equal to everything thrown at him. In added time both sides created an opportunity. Murphy fired over for Guiseley and Ilkeston debutant Jaden White had a chance to make it 3-1 but saw his effort go the wrong side of the post.

After the game Ilkeston manager Ian Deakin praised his team’s resilient performance while Guiseley manager Andy Welsh rued the chances missed in the first half.

Written by – John Attewell

Saturday 16th March 2024 – Northern Premier League

Ilkeston Town 1-1 Hyde United

This was a good point for Ilkeston against one of the best footballing sides in the league. The Robins might have won the game near the end but a draw was a fair result after Hyde had much the better of the first half.

Hyde started impressively with some excellent quick passing moves and on 6 minutes Lewis Alessandra’s forced Matt Yates to tip his shot onto the bar. But it was Ilkeston who went ahead against the run of play after Jamie Walker was fouled in the area then scored the resulting penalty on 11 minutes.  Hyde hit back immediately and Yates had to save from Shakeel Jones-Griffiths and Manasse Mampala before the equaliser came from Jack Redshaw on 16 minutes. It followed a clever corner kick routine involving several players and ended with Redshaw firing low into the corner of the net. On 25 minutes There were shouts for another Ilkeston penalty when Lindon Meikle was sent tumbling in the area but the offside flag had been raised. A superb Tom Marshall tackle rescued Ilkeston then just before half time Matthew Fearnley had a big chance to put Hyde ahead but fired wide.

Hyde were first out off the blocks for the second half and Redshaw forced Yates into an early save and a minute later Declan Eratt-Thompson had to clear off the line from Redshaw’s header.

Soon after that Fearnley broke free but fired straight at Yates. Then came Ilkeston’s best spell. On 59 minutes a Hyde mistake at the back saw L’Varn Brandy break free before being brought down giving Tom Marshall a free kick opportunity from 30 yards.  Marshall’s attempt looked good but flew just wide of the post.

Marshall then had another chance when he got on the end of Eratt-Thompson’s corner but his header was just too high. Connor Dixon’s shot was deflected wide before Hyde had a chance from a free kick right on the edge of the area but Yates made the save. With ten minutes to go Ilkeston very nearly snatched the lead.

Tom Cursons did exceptionally well to force his way into the area and create a chance for himself but his effort was parried by Hyde keeper Jordan Eastham and Meikle following up couldn’t quite get the finishing touch. It was then Hyde’s turn to go close as Yates produced a stunning save to thwart Josh Doherty and preserve a point.

Written By – John Attewell

The Robins welcome Hyde United to the Microlise New Manor Ground this afternoon in the Pitching In Northern Premier League.

Despite the two week break, Ian Deakin is confident in his players that fitness levels have not dropped and is looking forward to the challenge Hyde will bring to the Robins.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR DIGITAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME FOR FREE

We are delighted to announce the signing of versatile, Australian, defender Bailey Waern.

The former Sunshine Coast Wanderers FC (Australia) and IFK Aspudden (Sweden) defender will join Eastwood CFC on loan until the end of the season.

Following his signing, manager Ian Deakin said

“Bailey is a young defender who has been training with us for the past 4 weeks.

“He has done well and will provide us with an extra defensive option.

“He will join Eastwood CFC on loan for the remainder of this season.”