Corner is wasted by trying to waste time.

3 minutes added. 

Full time.  Its a 1-0 win

. 
Sat 8th February 2025
Northern Premier League
Ilkeston Town  1  Workington  0
Alex Hardwick’s first Ilkeston goal was enough to decide a match between two teams at opposite ends of the table with both sides desperate for the points. Two players on loan from Mansfield made their Ilkeston debuts, McKeal Abdullah started and Darien Wauchope was a second half substiute. After a first half of few chances Ilkeston upped the tempo and were the stronger side but couldn’t add to Hardwick’s single second half strike.  

Ilkeston’s first real attempt on goal was by skipper Tom Marshall whose shot from 25 yards warmed the hands of keeper Alex Mitchell. A couple of minutes later debutant McKeal Abdullah found the net after the ball had struck the post from Kornell McDonald’s shot but an offside flag was raised. Connor Dixon headed wide before Workington’s best effort from Kai Nugent whose fine low effort fizzed past the post. Stephen Rigg then sent a powerful header over the bar in a good spell for the visitors but a tame first half ended goalless. 

The second half began at a much faster pace and L’Varn Brandy quickly tested Mitchell with a thunderous strike which the keeper could only parry and Addullah was not quite able to reach the loose ball. There was then a chance for Workington after a defensive mistake allowed Rigg to drive through on goal. It looked like certain goal but when Rigg squared the ball to Ruben Grewal, Yates pulled off a superb reaction save. At the other end Abdullah did well to get on the end of a Jordan Stevens cross but his effort flew over the bar. A very lively opening 15 minutes ended with a great effort by Workington’s David Symington that rattled the Ilkeston crossbar. At that point manager Ian Deakin started to make several player changes to try and break the deadlock. The result was almost immediate. After Callum Minkley’s shot was blocked, substitute Alex Hardwick lashed in McDonald’s pass to give Ilkeston the lead. Another chance fell to the unlucky Abdullah who with Mitchell to beat saw his effort go just the wrong side of the post. Workington couldn’t muster a late response and Ilkeston saw out the closing stages without any scares.


 

Last edited by Matchman (09/2/2025 2:52 PM)

Alex wrote:

Interesting how the game has changed over the years, back in the day it was the 1 to 11 but nowadays it's a squad game.

Yesterday and for the 1st time in many a moon you can say the squad won the match not the team.

I was saying to skillo at half time how strong the bench looked today. Every player which came on did a job

AH - scored the goal
JW - won every header and put himself above
DET - straight swap for CD but his extra energy helpt ilson to push back the workington team.
Our other new signing - came on for JW who looked like he was going to get sent off. Looks like he's been part of the team for ages.

On another day it could have been a very easy win for the robins by 3 maybe 4 goals.

Man of the match - I would have gone with the new number 9 but I and still happy matt Yates got it because he made a couple of very good saves at 0-0 to keep us in the game.

On to Tuesday gutted the bus is going a little bit earlier than normal but at end of the day it's a no brainer we could lose a lot of money if we where running 2 buses.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Good post Alex. Although it was a slender win yesterday, we always seemed in control and it never really looked like Workington could snatch a point. With players now recovered from injury our squad looks very strong and capable of making the playoffs. I was worried that we would miss Tom Cursons but with Hardwick and Abdullah up front we looked threatening and would have scored more on another day. Personally I was impressed with McKeal Abdullah. He could have scored three with a bit of luck. Every so often Stevens shows his undoubted class and as you said Wauchope fitted in straight away. Tom Marshall doesn’t get enough praise. He’s Mr Reliable every match. He did actually make a mistake yesterday but he’s such a commanding figure in defence every game. Every team needs a good keeper and we’ve got an outstanding one in Matt Yates. So, very happy with yesterday’s solid team performance and our present squad.  


 

.
JDG Media's Round-up of NPL matches played Sat 8th Feb 2025


Macclesfield hit Mickleover for six as promotion rivals falter : NPL round-up : Saturday 8 February
 Macclesfield cemented their status as Northern Premier League champions elect by thrashing Mickleover 6-1 on Saturday. It was a fine return to winning ways for the Silkmen, who scored five times in the final half-hour having been pegged back early in the second half by the visitors. In the end, it proved to be a difficult afternoon for a struggling Mickleover side that have picked up just four points from their last 10 league games and find themselves nine points from safety. 
Macclesfield's afternoon was made even better by defeats to their two nearest challengers, Guiseley and Ashton United.
Guiseley's recent slump continued with a 2-0 defeat at Prescot Cables, who scored twice in the second half and climbed to 13th after consigning the Lions to a third straight loss. 
In contrast, Ashton have been in excellent form of late but were unable to get the better of fellow promotion hopefuls Worksop Town, who ran out 2-0 winners at Sandy Lane. Latvian midfielder Aleksandrs Starcenko broke the deadlock shortly after half-time, then top scorer Liam Hughes made sure of the points from the penalty spot six minutes from the end - netting his 16th of the season in all competitions. The result was made even more impressive considering Worksop were reduced to 10 men midway through the first half after Vaughan Redford was shown a second yellow card. 
Fourth-placed Worksop moved further clear of Stockton Town who, like many of their fellow play-off incumbents, came away from the latest round of fixtures empty-handed. The Anchors were beaten 3-1 by Warrington Rylands, who came from behind to strengthen heir promotion credentials, thanks to George Waring's double and a third in stoppage time from substitute Taylor Bowen. In doing so, Neil Reynolds' Blues extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches with a fine display on the road.
Elsewhere in the race for the top five, Ilkeston Town moved to within a point of the play-offs after Alex Hardwick came off the bench to net the only goal in their 1-0 victory over Workington. Despite enduring another defeat on their travels, Workington remain out of the bottom four after other results went their way. 
Hebburn Town retained their grip on eighth after a goalless draw at Matlock Town, and goals in either half from Nathan Buddle and Nic Bollado helped Morpeth Town past Whitby Town in their Yorkshire Coast showdown - the Seasiders dropping into the relegation zone as a result. 
Meanwhile, FC United of Manchester climbed into the top half after a 1-0 victory at Lancaster City. Adam Le Fondre scored the only goal of the game shortly after the hour mark, his penalty enough to stretch Lancaster's winless run to six matches. 
At the Project Solar Stadium, Dec Howe and Joel Amado exchanged first half goals as Hyde United and Gainsborough Trinity shared the spoils. 
Further down the division, Willis Francis was beaten for the first time as Basford United boss as the Lions lost 1-0 at Bamber Bridge. 
Blyth Spartans' own survival hopes were dealt a further blow at home to Leek Town, with the pair playing out a 1-1 draw. Blues debutant Dylan Scott came off the bench to score in the dying stages, denying Spartans their fourth league win of the season.  

Results - Saturday 8 February 

• Bamber Bridge 1-0 Basford United
• Blyth Spartans 1-1 Leek Town
• Hyde United 1-1 Gainsborough Trinity
• Ilkeston Town 1-0 Workington
• Lancaster City 0-1 FC United of Manchester
• Macclesfield 6-1 Mickleover
• Matlock Town 0-0 Hebburn Town
• Prescot Cables 2-0 Guiseley
• Stockton Town 1-3 Warrington Rylands
• Whitby Town 0-2 Morpeth Town
• Worksop Town 2-0 Ashton United