Your right but it would be nice to beat Coalville Town again! Especially since thy are the last team we beat and have since signed all our player with any experience. I remember going to Coalville and after Malachi scored his wonder goal thinking that this team could actually surprise a few people this season!
Producing the archive articles for the programmes has shown me what a prestigious football club Ilkeston Town were. The quality of the players who could not a regular spot in our first team was amazing. Hopefully (with a big sigh) one day those days will return to the NMG. I remember at the time fans were moaning like hell about the team! I bet they wish they could go back in time! You never know something exciting might be just around the corner (optimist?).

Tuesday14th Feb sees the visit of Coalville to the NMG. Our last league win was at Coalville when Malachi stunned them with his last minute winner. Since then Ilkeston have gone sixteen league games without a win and have lost their last ten. Coalville will be desperate to avenge that defeat and Ilkeston will be desperate to repeat it. Since the previous encounter Coalville have strengthened their squad which now includes a few players recruited from Ilkeston. Ilkeston have recently improved their squad with two Bermudian signings, keeper Dale Eve and defender Dante Leverock. Coalville must be favourites 

There's never a dull moment at Ilkeston Football Club. I said that February would be a pivotal month but Shaun Goater coming in as manager caught me totally by surprise. I said we had to beat Sutton Coldfield and we did. It's only one win but suddenly spirits are lifted. We've taken four points from the last two games and kept clean sheets in both. The team played with great spirit and togetherness right to the end. We now need to take on Hednesford on Tuesday night with newly found confidence. If we could win that one then the impossible dream of escaping relegation becomes more real. The supporters yesterday were brilliant. Until the last two games they've not had much to cheer about but yesterday they really lifted the team and Shaun Goater was specially grateful. The younger players are now starting to blossom following their premature introduction into Northern Premier League football in really challenging circumstances.  We still need at least another couple of experienced players but many of the younger players who have come into the first team have raised their game and are starting to look more comfortable at this level.
Talking of experienced players:  I heard a few things yesterday about some of the more experienced players that we had at the start of the season. One player was always claiming he was injured, another one didn't want to play every game and another one didn't like to play with the younger players.  
There was a bit of a get together in the lounge after the game yesterday. It was planned to be a food and drink thank you to all of the match day staff. The win made it more special.
The next game is Tuesday 21st February v Hednesford (home) followed by Buxton (away) on Saturday 24th February and then another home game v Halesowen on Tuesday 28th February.
 

Last edited by Matchman (20/2/2017 8:08 AM)