Matchman wrote:

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This Saturday is Ilkeston's penultimate home game of the 2022-23 season. Hednesford are already relegated but Ilkeston have problems of their own. Four loan players have recently returned to their clubs leaving us very short of players and with the deadline for signings now past, we face having to play with a very understrength squad. We did manage to recall Ollie Brown-Hill from Stamford but an attempt to bring back Kallern Thomas from Corby has been unsuccessful. The Corby  manager understandably wants to keep Kallern while they have a chance of making the playoffs
So with Finn Delap no longer with us, we have no central defender and it looks like we will have a makeshift lineup.

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finn delap @delap_finn 
been a pleasure @ilkestontown_fc a great group of staff and players. all the best        



A National League side have been tracking one of Ilkeston’s players



 

Which player and which team?

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DATE: SAT 08 APR 2023    BY STEVE WHITNEY

Easter Saturday's Premier Division Central Round-Up
Easter is often a time when results don’t go the way of form, mainly due to it being such a busy time for players. And Easter Saturday in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central produced some unexpected outcomes.

Stratford celebrate scoring against Mickleover (Photo Stratford Town FC) 

Coalville Town still lead the table, but only by 4 points now after they were held to a 1-1 draw, and Leiston are now second after beating Barwell 2-0, leaving long-time leaders Tamworth in third after losing 2-0 at struggling St Ives Town

.In front of another excellent crowd of 962 at the Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium, it was visiting Bromsgrove Sporting who took a 42nd minute lead with a neat finish from Brandon Smalley – it was the Rouslers` first effort on target. But within 2 minutes, Coalville were back on level terms when Max Brogan finished at the second attempt after good work from Alex Dean. The home side threw everything at the Sporting defence but couldn’t find the killer touch and had to settle for a point.

Leiston welcomed the dangerous Barwell side to Victory Road – the Canaries having been in great recent form. But two goals inside the opening 5 minutes eventually proved enough for Darren Eadie and Chris Wigger’s side. After just 3 minutes, Ben Fowkes volleyed past Andy Wycherley from the edge of the area for his 20th goal of the season. Then, 2 minutes after that, Wyatt Hill’s cross was headed home by Will Davies for his 31st goal of the campaign to date.

Tamworth travelled to the Westwood Stadium to take on a St Ives Town side whose run of ten games without a win had plummeted them down the table and they started the game just a place and 3 points above the drop zone. However, they finished it 5 points clear of fourth-bottom Kings Langley after recording a vital 2-0 win. In front of a crowd of 363, Ives took an 11th minute lead when Michael Richens headed powerfully home from 6 yards out. And then 2 minutes before half-time, a static Lambs defence allowed Jonny Edwards to poke the ball past Jaz Singh.The visitors weren’t able to find any rhythm or killer instinct in front of goal and Andy Peaks` side are now 6 points behind Coalville and 2 behind Leiston. St Ives` win ensured that Bedford Town became the third to be confirmed as being relegated.

Fourth-placed Nuneaton Borough were held to a 1-1 draw at the FCS Stadium by fourth-bottom Kings Langley. A crowd of 616 saw Ryan Beswick fire Boro ahead after 16 minutes. But the visitors were lively and home `keeper Tony Breeden was forced into making several saves to keep his team in front. Kings did equalise on 66 minutes when Wilson Carvalho scored direct from a free-kick.In the 83rd minute, Boro’s Leon Chambers-Parillon hit a post before Breeden pulled off two more late saves to keep the scores level.

There was a bit of a jolt to fifth-placed Rushall Olympic’s top five challenge as they were beaten 1-0 at Dales Lane by a Basford United side for whom this was a first win in six matches. The only goal of the game came after 17 minutes when Basford caught the Pics on the break and Ben Starkie fired past Jacob Weaver.

However, Liam McDonald’s side need only a point to ensure a top five finish as sixth-placed Ilkeston Town have only three games remaining and, despite a 4-1 win against already-relegated Hednesford Town, are 8 points adrift of the Pics. The Robins led through a Leroy Lita header after 21 minutes, but just 2 minutes later were reduced to ten-men when Olly Brown-Hill brought down Fenton Heard as he headed towards goal and as last man was dismissed. Right on the stroke of half-time, Kieren Fenton doubled the home side’s lead. After re-adjusting at the break, Ilkeston were able to deal with most of what the Pitmen could throw at them and then, with 8 minutes remaining, Fenton’s second killed the game off. Chay Tilt netted a consolation for Hednesford in the 89th minute but there was still time for a first senior goal from Lloyd Patterson.

Stratford Town moved 7 points clear of the drop zone after beating Mickleover 2-1 at the Arden Garages Stadium. A crowd of 542 saw Kyle Bennett give the Bards a 13th minute lead after Sports` keeper Jonathan Hedge had saved the initial effort. The visitors equalised on the hour-mark when Ollie Greaves took advantage of some indifferent defending. But 10 minutes from time, Dan Lafferty, who had just had an effort cleared off the line, made it 2-1 with a fine finish.

Hitchin Town earned Hertfordshire bragging rights after beating Royston Town 1-0 at Top Field. In front of the Canaries` biggest crowd of the season, 834, an entertaining encounter saw Royston come closest to breaking the deadlock when Toby Symes managed to scramble the ball off the line. Shots from Hitchin’s Diogo Freitas-Gouveia and Jack Snelus both hit the bar and it looked as though it was going to be `one of those days`. However, in the 3rd minute of time added on at the end of the game, Symes grabbed Hitchin’s winner.

And in the day’s other game, already-doomed AFC Rushden & Diamonds once again upset the apple cart by winning 2-0 at the War Memorial Athletic Ground against tenth-placed Stourbridge. Diamonds have gone five games without defeat since being confirmed as returning to Step 4 football and now have a good chance to at least not finish bottom. A crowd of 479 saw Joel Anker break the deadlock to give the visitors the lead 5 minutes after half-time.And then in the 71st minute, Anker doubled his and Diamonds tally.


 

Following his dismissal against Hednesford, Ollie Brown-Hill will miss the Nuneaton match but will be available for the Hitchin match