Big effort needed this half.   Too many passes going astray.

We're back in the game    Great header by Wilder           1-2        53 mins

Last edited by Matchman (11/2/2023 4:10 PM)

Errat-Thompson replaces Jack Thomas on  57 mins         2-2

Updates 11thFebruary 2023
 
Southern League Central Premier
AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0 Barwell 1
Basford United 0 Bromsgrove Sporting 0
Hednesford Town 1 Coalville Town 0
Hitchin Town 0 Stourbridge 0
Ilkeston Town 3 Bedford Town 2
Kings Langley 0 Tamworth 0
Leiston 1 Alvechurch 1
Mickleover 1 Needham Market 0
Nuneaton Borough 1 Stratford Town 0 
Redditch United 2 St Ives Town 0 
Royston Town 1 Rushall Olympic 0
 
Others
Fulham 1 Nottingham Forest 0
Wycombe Wanderers 1 Derby County 0
Mansfield Town 2 Gillingham 0
Chesterfield 0 Notts County 0
Blyth Spartans 1 Peterborough Sports 0
Hereford 0 Alfreton Town 0
Kettering Town 0 Buxton 0
Belper Town 1 Marine 1
Matlock Town 0 Warrington Town 0
Carlton Town 0 Bridlington Town 2
Grantham Town 0 North Shields 0
Long Eaton United 1 Tadcaster Albion 0
Alnwick Town 1 Newcastle Independent 0 ft

It looked like a Bedford equaliser but its been ruled out.   still 3-2 after   70 minutes 

Bedford are now playing well and looking dangerous going forward. Lita finds Woakes but Woakes cross evades everyone. Free kick to Bedford in really good position.        3-2     76 mins

Bedford are close to a leveller. They are capable of scoring.      3-2      86 mins  

pdates 11th February 2023
 
Southern League Central Premier
AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0 Barwell 1
Basford United 0 Bromsgrove Sporting 0
Hednesford Town 1 Coalville Town 0
Hitchin Town 1 Stourbridge 0
Ilkeston Town 3 Bedford Town 2
   Butterworth 1’ for Bedworth
   Tomnlison for Bedworth 13’
   Wilder for Ilson 53’
   Lita on 55’
   Wilson 61’
Kings Langley 0 Tamworth 0
Leiston 1 Alvechurch 1
Mickleover 1 Needham Market 0
Nuneaton Borough 1 Stratford Town 0 
Redditch United 2 St Ives Town 0 
Royston Town 1 Rushall Olympic 0
 
Others
Fulham 1 Nottingham Forest 0
Wycombe Wanderers 1 Derby County 1
Mansfield Town 2 Gillingham 0
Blyth Spartans 1 Peterborough Sports 0
Hereford 0 Alfreton Town 0
Kettering Town 0 Buxton 0
Belper Town 1 Marine 1
Matlock Town 0 Warrington Town 0
Carlton Town 2 Bridlington Town 4
   Carlton down to ten men since 34’
Grantham Town 1 North Shields 0
   Ex Robin Mason Lee scores for Grantham 75’
Long Eaton United 1 Tadcaster Albion 0
   Ex Robin scores yet again for Long Eaton
Alnwick Town 1 Newcastle Independent 0 ft

Updates 11th February 2023
 
Southern League Central Premier
AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0 Barwell 1
Basford United 0 Bromsgrove Sporting 0
Hednesford Town 1 Coalville Town 3
Hitchin Town 1 Stourbridge 1
Ilkeston Town 3 Bedford Town 2
   Butterworth 1’ for Bedworth
   Tomnlison for Bedworth 13’
   Wilder for Ilson 53’
   Lita on 55’
   Wilson 61’
Kings Langley 0 Tamworth 0
Leiston 1 Alvechurch 1
Mickleover 2 Needham Market 0
Nuneaton Borough 1 Stratford Town 0 
Redditch United 2 St Ives Town 0 
Royston Town 1 Rushall Olympic 1
 
Others
Fulham 1 Nottingham Forest 0
Wycombe Wanderers 2 Derby County 1
Mansfield Town 2 Gillingham 0
Blyth Spartans 1 Peterborough Sports 1
Hereford 0 Alfreton Town 0
Kettering Town 0 Buxton 0
Belper Town 1 Marine 1
Matlock Town 0 Warrington Town 0
Carlton Town 2 Bridlington Town 4
   Carlton down to ten men since 34’
Grantham Town 1 North Shields 0
   Ex Robin Mason Lee scores for Grantham 75’
Long Eaton United 1 Tadcaster Albion 0
   Ex Robin scores yet again for Long Eaton
Alnwick Town 1 Newcastle Independent 0 ft

Ilkeston move up to sixth place at the moment!

.
​I wasn't expecting such a tense game today but there was no chance of the routine match i anticipated after we gave them a two goal start. With three new players in the starting lineup it was bound to take some time before we settled.  What a nightmare start for Callum Hiddleston to be picking the ball out of the net after 48 seconds. Bedford's second was a gift from Joe Wilson but the fact that Wilson was named man of the match shows how well he set about making amends. We had three good chances in the first half which we didn't take. These fell to Hilton, Campbell and Lita. Even at 0-2 down most fans thought we could turn things round in the second half and so it proved,   A great header by Wilder, a brilliant finish by Lita and a fantastic winner by Joe Wilson in ten magic minutes did the trick.
Bedford deserve credit for fighting back and pushing for an equaliser so that the result was in doubt until the final whistle. After his shaky start Hiddleston did well. I also thought the other two debutants Connor Dixon and Mitchell Woakes did well. I was told Dixon from Derby was decent and was pleasantly surprised how well Woakes from Heather St John did. 




 

Trowell Nicky wrote:

Jeez, the last half hour was absolute agony. Terrific response from us at the start of the second half; 3 goals in the first 15 minutes, but then what happened? Yes, they had nothing to lose and gave in a real good go, and yes, we had new players playing, but still, we have to have better game management than that. We just kept giving the ball back to them, time after time after time.

We scored 3 terrific goals. 2 goals from full-backs. I think Wilson and Wilder are good going forward but really not sure about their defensive abilities. Not convinced we've got a good, solid defender anywhere in the squad. You're not going to challenge for promotion if you've got Delap and Fenton as your centre-backs.

Interesting decision to put Hilton in midfield. So Hilton, Thomas, and Dixon in midfield. They all worked hard, but they hadn't played together before and it showed, there just wasn't any structure or organisation in what they were doing. Where was Campbell playing, looked like in the centre behind Lita? Why not leave him on the right flank (where he's been playing recently) to give us a bit more balance?

I thought Dixon and Woakes showed touches of real quality. Woakes put some terrific crosses in, especially in the first half. We had 3 good chances in the first half (Hilton wide of the goal but only 6 yards out, and headers from Campbell and Lita). If Lita was with us for a whole season he'd get 20+ goals.

Great to see Dec back. He'll need to build up his match fitness, but perhaps next week Dec, Thomas, and Dixon in midfield and Tomlin (if he's back from his hols), Lita, and Campbell up front. I know a lot of Scunny fans were disappointed in Mason O'Malley leaving, they think he was the best left-back in their squad so I wonder if he'll get a runout next week?

agree about our defence we cant cope on a counter attack we are really lacking , but that first goal was from a terrible pass and there was a lot of them . Yes  we had some good  chances in the first half , good ones at that but just couldnt score . 
 the goals came from sooooo much pressing but as soon as we went ahead that stopped . yes they had some good chances but we did as well , Lita one v one and omg that miss by Remaye where he put it over where it looked easier to score ....
 

Last edited by kevilsonlad (12/2/2023 7:01 PM)

.
DATE: SAT 11 FEB 2023      BY STEVE WHITNEY
Saturday`s Premier Division Central Round-Up
It’s as you were at the top of the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central as both leaders Tamworth and second-placed Leiston were held to 1-1 draws on Saturday – and both by teams battling at the opposite end of the table.

Henri Wilder heads Ilkeston's second (Photo: Ilkeston Town FC) 

The Lambs made their first-ever journey to the Orbital Fasteners Stadium to take on Kings Langley.The opening half finished goalless and the longer the game went on, the more it looked like ending that way.However, in the 80th minute, Tamworth were awarded a penalty for a foul by Ethan Light on Ty Deacon, and although the incident looked to have taken place outside the area, the referee pointed to the spot and top scorer Dan Creaney made no mistake to give the Lambs the lead.But credit to the hosts, who made a quick breakaway and Cain Keller’s pass was finished off by Andronicos Georgiou at the far post.

Leiston welcomed fourth-from-bottom Alvechurch to Victory Road and it was the visitors who started the quickest and took an 11th-minute lead when Harry Williams headed past Sam Donkin. On the half-hour mark though, the Suffolk side were back on level terms when Ben Fowkes set up Will Davies to score from close range. All-square at half-time and it finished 1-1, although Leiston came mighty close to winning it in the first minute of stoppage time but Fowkes` effort was cleared off the line.

Third-placed Nuneaton Borough took advantage of the top two dropping points by beating Warwickshire neighbours Stratford Town 1-0 at The FCS Stadium. What turned out to be the only goal of the game in front of a crowd of 615 came from Kyle Storer, who headed a Charlie Dowd cross home at the far post. The win takes Boro to within three points of Leiston, while the Bards remain in third-from-bottom spot.

This time last week, fourth-placed Rushall Olympic were celebrating a 7-2 hammering of Redditch United on their own Trico Stadium patch. This week, however, the Pics were beaten 2-1 at Garden Walk by a Royston Town side who are now sixth, albeit seven points adrift of fifth-placed Coalville Town, and having played six more games than the Ravens. It did look though as if Liam McDonald’s men would take a point home until a late winner from the Crows. It was Steve Castle’s side who took a 29th-minute lead through Adam Murray. And they held that lead until half-time.The visitors grabbed an equaliser with 8 minutes remaining, courtesy of Sam Whittall.But in the first of 4 added minutes at the end of the game, Shomari Barnwell fired Royston’s winner.

Coalville are now just three points behind Rushall – with five games in hand - after winning 3-1 at second-from-bottom Hednesford Town .The Pitmen’s player-manager Danny Glover brought in several new faces and one of those, Max Brogan, gave the hosts an early 5th-minute lead direct from a free-kick. Hednesford held that advantage until the break, and it wasn’t until the 77th minute that Tim Berridge equalised. Five minutes later, Coalville were awarded a penalty for a foul on Ashley Chambers and Eliot Putman duly converted the resulting spot-kick. Then, on 86 minutes, Adam Stevens` side confirmed victory when Chambers netted from close range.

Ilkeston Town are seventh after edging a best-of-five win at the Microlise New Manor Ground against a Bedford Town side who are now 17th. A crowd of 715 saw the visitors shock the majority in the stadium by taking the lead after 48 seconds when Joe Butterworth finished neatly from the edge of the area. And when the Eagles doubled their advantage with only 13 minutes gone when a poor back pass went straight to Connor Tomlinson who had plenty of time and space to score, things looked bleak for the Robins. The hosts came close to reducing the deficit in the 22nd minute but Remaye Campbell’s header struck a post from Connor Dixon's cross.Eight minutes after half-time, Ilkeston did manage to get on the scoresheet with a Henri Wilder header. And less than 2 minutes later, the hosts were back on level terms when veteran forward Leroy Lita showed excellent control and skill to finish well. Then, on 61 minutes, Joe Wilson burst into the box and crashed home a half-volley to put Ilkeston 3-2 up. New loanee keeper from Sheffield United, Callum Hiddleston, produced a fine save just after the goal from Butterworth to prevent an Eagles` leveller and in stoppage time was called on again to save from D’Sean Theobalds, but the hosts held on for all three points.

Redditch recovered well from last week’s thrashing by Rushall Olympic to beat St Ives Town 2-0 at the Trico Stadium. Jack Byrne gave the Reds a 14th-minute lead that Murphy Culkin doubled after 33 minutes.

Level on points with Redditch in ninth are Mickleover, who pushed Needham Market further towards the drop zone with a 2-0 win at the Don Amott Arena.Elliott Reeves put Sports ahead after 15 minutes and then, with 20 minutes remaining, George Nunn ensured the points went to John McGrath’s side with a second.

The two teams now immediately below Mickleover, Hitchin Town and Stourbridge, shared a 1-1 Top Field stalemate. A crowd of 539 saw an eventful second half after an even opening 45 minutes.It was the Canaries who broke the deadlock after 63 minutes when, following a great run by loanee Daniel Idiakhoa, Jack Snelus fired home. But just 4 minutes later, Hitchin were dealt a massive blow when they had goalkeeper Charlie Horlock sent-off for two bookable offences and outfield player Lewis Barker was forced to don the gloves. The resulting penalty was duly converted by Tyler Lyttle. Then on 86 minutes, midfielder Barker made a terrific save to dent Reece Styche from pinching a Glassboys win.

It’s looking bleak for AFC Rushden & Diamonds as the bottom side lost 1-0 at Hayden Road to a Barwell side who have moved up the table to 14th. The only goal of the game came after 17 minutes when Beck-Ray Enoru went through to beat debutant French keeper Loris Marcimain. Defeat leaves Diamonds on 15 points – 8 behind third-from-bottom Stratford.

The day’s other game between Basford United and Bromsgrove Sporting – two teams in mid-table separated by only two points – ended all-square at 1-1.Kameron Campbell’s 55th minute effort for the Nottinghamshire hosts looked to be enough, until Jack Tolley popped up with a stoppage time equaliser for the Rouslers.


 

Yes we struggled to hold on to the points late on in the game but there were three players playing for the first time. Before kick off when we saw the team we knew that there was a lot that could go wrong. But we won the game so let's be positive.

Bedford aren't one of the better teams in our league but they still had to be beaten. All three of the debutants did well in my opinion. Hiddleston recovered well after conceding twice early on and pulled off some good saves. Dixon looked really good, comfortable with the ball and good distribution. Woakes from Heather St John made the step up to our level comfortably. Had Lita or Campbell converted their chances near the end it would have been a less stressful finish. All of our goals were good ones.

After a quiet start Leroy Lita is now showing what he can do. Myself and other supporters are now warming to him because they see his effort and enthusiasm as well as his skill and goals.






 

Last edited by Matchman (14/2/2023 10:39 AM)