September 2019 matches played 

Spalding United (home)               draw  0-0
Frickley Athletic   (away)               won  3-1
Leek Town  (away)                        lost   1-2
Market Drayton  (home)                won  3-0
Newcastle Town  (home)               won  3-1


Match of the month :
Tue 10th September 2019
Northern Premier League, South East Division
Leek Town  2  Ilkeston Town  1 
Despite leading for most of the game Ilkeston finally succumbed to two late goals and ended the game with only nine players as Leek extended their 100% start. The first red card on 77 minutes was given to goalkeeper Richard Stainsby after he was adjudged to have fouled a Leek forward when trying to clear. With no substitute keeper on the bench Tom Marshall had to pull on the jersey. The dismissal proved to be pivotal as prior to that Ilkeston had dealt with everything Leek had thrown at them with Chris Robertson and Dean Freeman both outstanding. Ilkeston’s second dismissal was in added time when Alex Marshall saw red for a dangerous challenge. Ilkeston got off to a wonderful start when Rod Orlando-Young outpaced a defender and fired past the onrushing Leek keeper. Ilkeston were superb in the opening quarter but gradually Leek worked their way back into the game. On 14 minutes Reco Fyfe made an excellent run and created a chance for Orlando-Young whose shot was just over the bar and on 25 minutes Freeman’s header was also just too high. Leek’s best efforts were a header by Tim Grice and a Robert Stevenson shot into the side netting. Leek started the second half strongly and Darren Chadwick headed over from a corner. For Ilkeston, a Shaun Harrad header went narrowly wide. On 70 minutes Stevenson spurned a decent opportunity to level as Leek started to get on top. Seven minutes later came the penalty incident and influential Leek captain, Chadwick gave Tom Marshall no chance from the spot. Decisions seemed to be going Leek’s way and from a free kick they went ahead on 83 minutes with Chadwick again the scorer. Alex Marshall almost rescued a point for Ilkeston with a powerful header which Danny Roberts turned over.  


The Supporters Group hired a double decker for this away game and a memorable journey it proved to be. It was very disappointing to lose this one as the game changed on a refereeing decision when Ilkeston were leading. Ilkeston keeper Richard Stainsby seemed harshly treated when a penalty was given against him as he challenged for the ball. Then as if that wasn’t bad enough he was showed a red card.

Last edited by Matchman (03/4/2020 1:19 PM)

We were totally robbed and it all started when the linesman have a free kick . That never was .......
Great following that night altho with bus windows were open all the way back I ended being badly.

October 2019 matches played 

League :      Wisbech Town  (home)                  lost   1-2    
League        Sheffield   (away)                          won   3-2
FA Trophy :  Bedworth United   (away)              lost   1-3          
League    :   Frickley Athletic  (home)              draw   2-2


Match of the month : 

Sat 5th October 2019
Northern Premier League, South East Division
Sheffield  2  Ilkeston Town  3
Ilkeston bounced back from Tuesday’s defeat against Wisbech with a remarkable win against Sheffield FC. It looked like it was going to be back to back defeats when they trailed 0-2 but the introduction of Mansfield Town loanee Tom Fielding halfway through the second half changed the game. Defences were on top in the first half and the only way a goal looked likely was from a set piece. Ilkeston’s best chances were a Chris Robertson header which was only just wide and a Rod Orlando-Young effort which was tipped over. Sheffield came closer with a shot that hit the bar but it stayed goalless until half time. On 49 minutes Ross Durrant made an incredible double save but Sheffield took the lead four minutes later through an own goal. Robertson was unlucky to divert a close range shot past Durrant. Sheffield doubled their lead ten minutes after that when Ryan McLean scored with a header. There seemed to be no way back for Ilkeston at this point. Tom Fielding was brought on for his debut and within a couple of minutes he’d lashed in a screamer. Ilkeston suddenly believed they could rescue a point and three minutes later it was 2-2 when Shaun Harrad scored. Both teams then pushed hard for a winner. On 74 minutes Durrant saved a thunderbolt from Michael Williams and on 80 minutes he denied Williams again as Sheffield tried to regain the lead they had lost. Ilkeston’s Reco Fyfe fired wide then there was a big penalty appeal by Sheffield when Mitchell Dunne went down in the area. The whistle went but it was to penalise Dunne for diving. Then on 90 minutes Ilkeston got the winner when Tom Marshall headed perfectly into the top corner. Sheffield desperately tried to come back but Ilkeston successfully negotiated the added time.   


One of the things that keeps us watching football is that you can’t always predict what the result will be. We all know that you don’t always get what you deserve and occasionally you win when you should have lost. This was a match which Sheffield should have won but we stayed in the match and Tom Fielding came on and turned the game round for us. When Tom Marshall headed in the winner it was pure ecstasy. The fans returning to the Supporters Bus were buzzing and to top it off Mark Clifford came onto the bus to thank us for our support. You just can’t beat  the feeling you get from a last minute winner.  

Last edited by Matchman (03/4/2020 1:20 PM)

Agreed Sheffield should have buried us and again like you say we kept plugging away . Brilliant fight back to win the game . What really got me is how long their forward got away with diving everywhere . He did from the very start of the game and I was shouting at the ref to pull him up about it. Finally he did book the player late on ...... Why so long.
  When Clffy came onto the coach it was to hear from him thanking us .

January 2020 matches played 

League :              Belper Town  (away)            draw  1-1
League :              Stamford  (home)                  lost   2-4          
League :              Spalding United   (away)       lost   0-1
League :              Sheffield   (home)                draw   1-1
League :              Wisbech Town (away)          won   2-0                             


Match of the month : 

New Year’s Day, Wed 1st January 2020
Northern Premier League, South East Division
Belper Town 1  Ilkeston Town  1
Ilkeston ended a three match losing sequence with a battling draw at Belper. The Robins edged the first half but had to withstand a strong finish by the Nailers to earn a point. Alex Peterson put Belper ahead but Fabian Smith levelled four minutes later in front of a bumper 753 Bank Holiday attendance.The first effort on target was a firm Belper header which Ross Durrant held on to. After seven minutes Ilkeston had a penalty shout for handball but their appeals were turned down, then on 12 minutes they thought they had scored when Alex Marshall headed in but this time an offside flag was raised. Ilkeston had their best chance on 35 minutes when Kieran Wells beat the offside trap but with only the keeper to beat he miss hit his shot allowing Musselwhite to save easily. Wells had another chance just before half time when he broke through again but couldn’t finish. Belper’s best efforts were by Peterson who twice fired wide. The second half saw more determination from Belper and they took the lead with a strong header by Peterson on 54 minutes. This was quickly followed by Belper very nearly scoring a second but at the other end Ilkeston were a warded a free kick about ten yards in from the left corner flag. Fabian Smith’s cross avoided every one in the packed goalmouth and curled inside the far top corner of the net. Belper then came close to regaining the lead when powerful a shot took a slight deflection and whistled just wide of the left hand upright. Danny Gordon tried to catch out Durrant with a free kick but his attempt went the wrong side of the post. The final ten minutes saw Ilkeston hanging on as Belper pressed hard for a winner but on this occasion the Ilkeston defence stood firm and a draw was achieved.  

Many Ilkeston fans made the short journey to 4th placed Belper who were chasing a playoff spot with games in hand. They were rewarded with a much better Ilkeston performance than of late and a point was a fair return.  

Last edited by Matchman (03/4/2020 1:23 PM)

March 2020 matches played  


League :  Market Drayton Town    (away)        won  1-0
League :  Loughborough Dynamo  (away  )    lost   1-3           

The final two matches before the Coronavirus pandemic ended the season prematurely.   

Sat 7th March 2020Northern Premier League, South East Division
Market Drayton Town  0  Ilkeston Town  1
A goal by Kieran Wells a minute before half time was enough for Ilkeston to secure a third consecutive win. Ilkeston totally dominated the first half with Wells twice hitting the frame of the goal but Market Drayton almost held out. The second half with the slope and wind advantage saw the hosts do much better but Ilkeston finished worthy winners.Wells was always Ilkeston’s danger man from crosses into the box but Drayton keeper Sam Agius was proving difficult to beat. A Wells header hit the crossbar on 18 minutes then 6 minutes later he rattled the bar again. Agius then saved low down from Kole Lambert. Next, Joe Maguire had a header cleared off the line before Drayton skipper Connor Russo tested Ross Durrant at the other end. Tom Marshall had Agius back-pedalling after seeing him off his line. Drayton had a rare chance on 38 minutes but Zac Hill miscued. Just when it seemed that the first half would be goalless Billy Bennett’s cross was headed firmly in at the back post by Wells.The start of the second half saw Drayton have their best spell and Durrant had to make a fine save to preserve Ilkeston’s lead. Lambert headed a Fabian Smith cross wide as Ilkeston regained control but with only a fragile one goal lead Drayton stayed in the game. Lambert had a shot blocked but then Drayton got a free kick in a dangerous position which was deflected for a corner. With 5 minutes left Wells was so close to a second goal from a tight angle but his effort rolled just wide. A minute after that Ilkeston had a massive penalty shout when Reco Fyfe looked to be brought down well inside the area as he was about to shoot. It looked a certain penalty but the official in charge thought otherwise. Before the end Drayton had a final free kick opportunity but Ilkeston cleared and the points were secure.   


No match can be taken for granted and this was proved when visiting struggling Market Drayton.  The pitch had a fair slope on it and the home players looked really young. The Drayton officials told  us that they were moving to another ground next season and were desperate not to be relegated. Ilkeston were always the better side but a one goal lead always leaves you feeling vulnerable. The 1-0 victory  made it three wins on the bounce and at last it felt like we had turned a corner.    Sat 14th March 2020


Northern Premier League, South East Division
Loughborough Dynamo  3  Ilkeston Town  1
Ilkeston’s three game winning run was ended by two late goals after Fernando Bell-Toxtle had cancelled out Loughborough’s first half lead. The first period belonged to the hosts but a better second half performance by Ilkeston promised to provide at least a point but the introduction of ex Ilkeston player Kevin De Silva Bastos turned the game in Dynamo’s favour.Loughborough started strongly and Ross Durrant had to save well from Karl Demidh. Ilkeston were under the cosh and on 11 minutes Alex Steadman opened the scoring for Dynamo. It took Ilkeston 30 minutes to create their first proper chance. Dynamo keeper Jason Alexander did really well to keep out a decent Kieran Wells effort with a diving save after good work by Reco Fyfe. Ilkeston had been guilty of failing to have a go and Loughborough were well worth their 1-0 interval lead. Ilkeston started the second half with much more determination. A Wells header was wide and a Joe Maguire shot hit the post before Fernando Toxtle-Bell’s superb equaliser. His shot on 72 minutes was right into the top left hand corner of the net giving Alexander no chance of saving. At this point Ilkeston had the edge and came very close to taking the lead. Kole Lambert was tripped near the edge of the penalty area. Kieran Fenton’s free kick hit the wall and came to Fyfe who’s powerful volley was brilliantly saved by Alexander. Lambert latched onto the rebound and smashed it just wide. But fortunes were about to change following Bastos’s introduction on 78 minutes. It was the tricky winger who created Dynamo’s second goal by skilfully providing the cross from which Manuchim Oke-William scored on 84 minutes. Then before Ilkeston had time to recover, Loughborough scored again. Oke-William was this time the provider after he intercepted a pass and made ground before feeding Demidh who slotted in the killer goal.   


Loughborough deserved their win in the end. Ironically Ilkeston’s best spell came after Fernando’s equaliser when we were caught out by counter attacks late in the game. Unfortunately there were a couple of alleged incidents involving supporters during the match which were reported to the match officials.