WhiteBallProject » Sat 22nd April 2023 - Hitchin Town v Ilkeston Town

Matchman · 17/4/2023 9:49 PM

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It's last game of the season time and of course we would like to end the season with a win but It’s going to be tough because Hitchin have only lost 3 times at home.
Their home record is Played 20, Won 8, Drawn 9, Lost 3.

But we’ll have lots of support with two full buses travelling to the game.

Matchman · 17/4/2023 9:56 PM

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Hitchin Town FC @HitchinTownFC

This Saturday it’s the final game of the season, so let’s get a huge crowd in Top Field to celebrate.
B’s Ices Ice Cream Van
Face Painting by Belle’s Enchanted
Tickets online only, available here: http://bit.ly/3A19Vgj
17 Apr 2023

Matchman · 18/4/2023 7:02 AM

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Hitchin are not prolific scorers. They have only scored 48 goal in their 40 matches so far.
Before their final match against Ilkeston they travel to Kings Langley tonight.
Hitchin have won their last two matches against Alvechurch 3-1 and Royston 1-0 whereas Ilkeston have lost their last two.
Ilkeston won the reverse fixture at the NMG back in November by 3-1 with goals by Montel Gibson, Kieran Fenton and Remaye Campbell.

Ilkeston are currently 7th and we can’t finish higher than that.
Redditch are level with us on on 61 points so to stop them finishing above us we have to match their result. Stourbridge are 2 points behind us and can finish above us if they win and we lose or draw.
Redditch and Stourbridge both have tough final matches against the current top two teams who are contesting the automatic promotion spot. Redditch are home to Tamworth and Stourbridge are away to Coalville.

Last edited by Matchman (18/4/2023 7:04 AM)

Matchman · 19/4/2023 8:26 AM

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After last night’s 1-0 win at Kings Langley, Hitchin have now won their last three matches.

Last five matches
Hitchin’s 12 points haul from their last five matches is the best in the league (WLWWW)

Relegated Rushden are second best with 11points from their last five. (WDWWD)
Leaders, Coalville have 7 points (WDLLW)
2nd placed,Tamworth have 10 points (WDLWW)
3rd placed, Leiston have 10 points (DWWWL)
4th placed, Nuneaton have 10 points (WWDLW)
5th placed, Rushall have just 1 point (LLLDL)

Matchman · 21/4/2023 8:57 AM

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Hitchin Town FC @HitchinTownFC
MATCHDAY SPECIAL Tomorrow we have our Pre-Match meal special available again in the Canary Club between 1pm and 2.30pm before our game against @ilkestontown_fc.
Our great drinks prices available all day everyday include Fosters £3.60, John Smiths £3.20 and Ales £3.50
9:01 am · 21 Apr 2023

Matchman · 22/4/2023 1:14 PM

Hitchin Town:
1 Joshua Mollison, 2 Kye Tearle, 3 Layne Eadie, 4 Toby Syme, 5 Claren Jones, 6 Lewis Barker, 7 Diogo Freitas-Gouveia, 8 Joshua Coldicott-Stevens, 9 Jack Snelus, 10 Daniel Idiakhoa, 11 Finley Wilkinson.
Bench: 12 Bradlry Bull, 14 Joshua Allen, 15 Ashley Hay, 16 Stephen Gleeson, 17 Kavan Cotter.

Ilkeston Town
1 Harvey Woodward, 2 Harley Kozluk, 3 Henri Wilder, 4 Jack Thomas, 5 Lloyd Patterson, 6 Kieran Fenton, 7 Tom Hilton, 8 Ollie Brown-Hill, 9 Leroy Lita, 10 Mitchell Woakes, 11 Tristan Bennett.
Nobody on the Bench

Last edited by Matchman (22/4/2023 1:41 PM)

Matchman · 22/4/2023 1:48 PM

Hitchin's ground is lovely. It's a grass pitch and it's in perfect condition. I have a decent view except for one corner. It's been sunny but now it's cloudy. Plenty of Ilkeston support but unfortunately only 11 players and no substitutes.
Ten minutes to kickoff.

Matchman · 22/4/2023 1:56 PM

The teams are out Hitchin are wearing yellow shirts and green shorts. Ilkeston are wearing their spotted maroon and blue kit. And the sun has come out.

We're off......

Last edited by Matchman (22/4/2023 1:59 PM)

Matchman · 22/4/2023 2:06 PM

First corner to Hitchin. Header goes wide. Jack Thomas fires over the bar for Ilkeston. Even game so far.
0-0 6 mins

Matchman · 22/4/2023 2:15 PM

Ilkeston supporters are the louder. Great noise coming from behind the goal. Hitchin are starting to get on top now but no big chances so far. 0-0 15 mins

Matchman · 22/4/2023 2:20 PM

What a save by Woodward. Great run by Gouveia and he looked certain to score but didn't. Ilkeston are hanging on, Good save by Woodward from Idiakhoa. 0-0 20 mins

Matchman · 22/4/2023 2:29 PM

Gouveia (ex Milton Keynes Dons) is causing havoc for Hitchin. Idiakhoa is on loan from Luton. Good run by Woakes but he can't find Lita at the end of it. It seems like a matter of time before Hitchin score , they're well on top. 0-0 29 mins

Last edited by Matchman (22/4/2023 2:30 PM)

Matchman · 22/4/2023 2:35 PM

Goal for Hitchin Woodward can't keep out the shot despite getting a hand to it. 0-1 35mins Stevens the scorer

Matchman · 22/4/2023 2:45 PM

Good save by Woodward from a glancing header. Wilder does well down the left but a defender deflects his cross. Another Woodward save. Really close to an Ilkeston goal after good play by Brown-Hill but its only a corner after a deflection takes the ball over the bar 0-0 45 mins

Matchman · 22/4/2023 2:55 PM

Half time : Hitchin 1 Ilkeston 0.
Truth is we're lucky to be only one behind.
Felt sorry for Woodward who has done really well but was beaten by one that looked like he should have saved.
Up front we've only looked like scoring on one occasion.
But we're only one goal in arrears so we're still in the game.
Our supporters have been brilliant.

Matchman · 22/4/2023 3:00 PM

The players are back out.

The second half is underway......

Matchman · 22/4/2023 3:09 PM

Bennett tries to release Ollie but the ball goes for a goal kick. Yellow card for Jack Thomas. Bit harsh.
Another good save by Woodward turning shot round post. Lita shot blocked by defender. 0-0 54 mins

Matchman · 22/4/2023 3:15 PM

Cross shot by Lita is just wide of the far post. Ilkeston are making a few chances now. Great chance for Wilkinson but he fires over the bar. 0-1 60 mins

Matchman · 22/4/2023 3:18 PM

Goal Hitchin Gouveia 61 minutes 0-2

Matchman · 22/4/2023 3:26 PM

Brilliant save by Woodward in a 1 on 1 situation. Hitchin officials are asking me if this is our proper team.

0-2 71 mins

Matchman · 22/4/2023 3:31 PM

Lita fouled on edge of area. This is a chance. Fenton puts the ball well over the bar. Jamie Ward has had to go to the Ilkeston fans behind the goal. Maybe after complaints by the Hitchin keeper. We're back underway
0-2 76 mins

Matchman · 22/4/2023 3:34 PM

3rd Goal for Hitchin. This is embarrassing We are awful. 0-3 77 mins

Matchman · 22/4/2023 3:38 PM

Attendance 812

Matchman · 22/4/2023 3:48 PM

Wilder shot is close but too high. Wilder's cross is pushed out for a corner which comes to nothing. Good forward run by Ollie until he is fouled. Fenton's free kick causes Mollison to make a save.
Penalty for Ilkeston as Lita brought down. GOAL Lita from the spot 1-3 90 mins

Matchman · 22/4/2023 3:49 PM

Full time Hitchin Town 3 Ilkeston 1

Matchman · 23/4/2023 8:34 AM

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Ilkeston's supporters were brilliant yesterday with superb vocal support throughout despite a below par performance by the team. That was until about 15 minutes from time when their good work was undone by two supporters who came onto the pitch (the Hitchin keeper's goal, to be precise) causing a holdup in the match. The Hitchin keeper had placed the ball for a goal kick when the two Ilkeston fans came on. One kicked the ball to the other who kicked it into the net.
Jamie Ward had to come from his dugout to the goal in order to persuade the guilty pair to leave the pitch and when I spoke to him after the game he was not happy.
The incident has to be reported by the referee and will result in a fine for the club.

Last edited by Matchman (23/4/2023 8:44 AM)

Dick Durrant · 23/4/2023 9:32 AM

The offending characters should at the very least be asked to pay the fine and if they don’t agree IMO sanctions should follow

This kind of stuff may appear funny but as the father of a keeper - if this was less good humoured someone could get hurt

On the pitch a season wasted. Poor recruitment and retention. Lots of money thrown at has beens. Cheque book management at its worst

This time last year there were firm foundations in place on the playing front. Yesterday no subs named. Absolutely bizarre

Matchman · 23/4/2023 11:54 AM

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Sat 22nd Mar 2023
Southern League Premier Central
Hitchin Town 3 Ilkeston Town 1
Ilkeston’s 2022-23 season ended dismally with a third consecutive defeat when they travelled to Hitchin. With keeper Harrison Foulkes unavailable, Harvey Woodward made his debut and was probably Ilkeston’s star man pulling off several outstanding saves.
Ilkeston struggled to get into the game in the first half and on 17 minutes Woodward produced a fine save to deny Diogo Freitas-Gouveia who was through on goal. Three minutes later he was called upon again this time to deny Daniel Idiakhoa. On 35 minutes he was finally beaten by Joshua Coldicott-Stevens effort that went in off the post. Just before half time Ilkeston created probably their only chance of the half when Ollie Brown-Hill did really well but his shot was deflected for a corner.
Ilkeston made a better start to the second half with Leroy Lita having a shot blocked then another attempt which was just wide. On 60 minutes Hitchin looked certain to score when Finley Wilkinson burst through the middle but fired over. A minute later though it was 2-0 when Freitas-Gouvia scored from close range. Woodward then saved Ilkeston with a brave save in a one-on-one situation with Wilkinson as Hitchin pressed for a third. Ilkeston had a chance when Lita was fouled on the edge of the area but Kieran Fenton hit the free kick over the bar. Hitchin then went three up through Ashley Hay when Ilkeston’s defenders failed to clear following Woodward’s initial save. Ilkeston hit back with a Henri Wilder effort which was was just too high. Then on 90 minutes Lita was fouled in the area and he was able to reduce the arrears from the spot.
It was Lita;s 16th goal in 18 matches since his arrival and despite no points from our final three matches, the Robins still finished a respectable 7th out of 22 teams.

Trowell Nicky · 23/4/2023 7:31 PM

Some people seem to be taking the view that 2 of our fans running on to the pitch and 'scoring' a goal just as their keeper was about to take a goalkick is an amusing end-of-season jape. I can't go along with that. It was embarrassing, and it tarnishes the club's image and that of the supporters. I'm sure we will be punished, and we should be punished. And yes if we get a fine, surely it should be those 2 supporters who pay the fine? The field of play is sacrosanct and fans do not run on to the pitch during a game. End of. Such a shame because the Ilkeston fans have been nothing short of magnificent this season, following the team, in numbers, through thick and thin. And not an ounce of trouble from any of them, at any town, at any pub, or at any ground. An absolute credit to the club.

What was also embarrassing was that we had no-one on our bench yesterday. Literally, no-one. I know it was the last game of the season and we had nothing to play for but neither did Hitchin. There's always something to play for, even if it's just not ending the season with 3 defeats. It looked like OBH picked up a knock after about half an hour, and was looking for treatment from that point on. I''m sure had we had a sub he would have come off. Didn't he risk a more serious injury? Just very unprofessional all round.

Last edited by Trowell Nicky (23/4/2023 7:33 PM)

WhiteBallProject · 23/4/2023 8:26 PM

I agree with every word you have said Nicky. You would have thought that it could have been predicted that with so many players on loan there was a chance they would all be recalled. I can't remember the last time we only had just a bare eleven! As for the two clowns who ran on the pitch the club must know who they are so they should be able to suggest they pay the fine for us or at least apologise to Jamie Ward. We are not a joke football team and should not treat ourselves as one! I was not at the game but I would have been embarrassed if I had. What these people who show us up don't realise is that Ilkeston Town club officials have to talk to the opposition club officials after the game. It gets tiresome to keep apologising for a very small minority especially as 99.9% of our fans are a credit to the club!