Nice piece about 'I'd rather have a Lita than a pint'. Very complimentary about our club.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/leroy-lita-premier-league-uefa-29464067

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DATE: SAT 18 MAR 2023   BY STEVE WHITNEY
Saturday's Premier Division Central Round-Up

Not so long back, Tamworth looked to be waltzing their way to the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central title. But today’s 1-0 defeat at the CR Mot Centre Community Stadium against Needham Market coupled with Leiston’s win against Bromsgrove Sporting has cut the Lambs` lead to just two points.



Leroy Lita is on the mark again - Photo: Ilkeston Town FC

 In front of a crowd of 757, the Marketmen defended well and what turned out to be the only goal of the game arrived 4 minutes before half-time when Jacob Lay’s cross was smashed home via a slight deflection by Luke Brown.
Leiston edged a thriller at Victory Road against mid-table Bromsgrove Rovers, who gave the second-placed side a real scare. But when the hosts went ahead after just 32 seconds, it looked ominous for the Rouslers when George Quantrell’s cross was headed home by Adam Mills. And the Suffolk side went two-up after 34 minutes when another Quantrell cross was converted past Ollie Taylor by Will Davies. Sporting got themselves back into the game in the 56th minute when they were awarded a penalty which Brandon Smalley duly converted .Leiston had a great chance to restore their two-goal advantage when they were also awarded a spot-kick for a foul on Mills, but the normally reliable Finlay Barnes saw his effort saved by Taylor to his right and the Rouslers` keeper also saved Davies` follow up. Buoyed by that, the visitors grabbed a 68th minute equaliser when recent signing Tristan Dunkley headed past Sam Donkin following a corner. Joe Marsden almost added a third for the hosts in the 84th minute, only for Taylor to turn his shot onto a post. But in the 89th minute, Taylor was beaten when a Ben Fowkes set up was fired home by Davies. However, in the 4th minute of 6 added on at the end of the game, Sporting almost levelled when Ayomide Lekuti’s effort from close range produced a great save by Donkin.
Coalville Town maintained their challenge for the title with a 1-0 win against the team who started the day in fourth place, Nuneaton Borough, at the FCS Stadium.In front of a terrific crowd of 1,017, there was little in it in the opening 45 minutes.And, thanks to respective keepers Tony Breeden and Paul White, it looked like heading for a 0-0 draw. And then as the clock ticked into stoppage time, Ashley Chambers kept his cool to dink the ball over Breeden and win it for the Ravens.
Nuneaton dropped to fifth place after Rushall Olympic took over fourth after beating third-bottom Bedford Town 2-0 at The Eyrie.On a heavy pitch which made good football difficult, the Pics took a 26th minute lead when Alex Moore converted Sam Mantom’s cross. Four minutes later, Bedford’s task became even more difficult when they had Jack Keeble shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Reece Mitchell. But on the hour-mark, it became ten apiece on the pitch when Rushall’s Alex Cameron was dismissed following a fracas involving several players after a goalmouth scramble. And the visitors wrapped up victory in the last minute when another Mantom assist saw Kieran Cook steer the ball home.
Mickleover in sixth missed the opportunity to put pressure on the top five when they were beaten by the odd goal in five at the Don Amott Arena by an in-form Barwell side, for whom this was a third straight win and 11th place in the table. The home side endured a poor first half and went into the break 3-0 down after goals from Beck-Ray Enoru after just 7 minutes, recent signing Josh Flanagan in the 26th minute with a volley after an initial effort had come back off the crossbar, and then a second for Enoru 2 minutes before the break. Mickleover came out all guns blazing for the second half and just 3 minutes in, pulled one back when Andy Dales` cross was finished off by veteran forward Stuart Beavon. Then on 68 minutes, Sports` Jamie Butler’s header hit the bar and bounced to safety. And on 77 minutes, the hosts did manage to pull a second back when Dales cut in and fired past Andy Wycherley on an angle .But, despite a battling second half comeback, the damage was done in the opening 45 minutes.
It’s looking increasingly like the top five is going to remain in situ until the end of the season as, apart from Mickleover’s defeat, the two teams immediately below them, Ilkeston Town and Royston Town, shared a 3-3 draw at the Microlise New Manor Ground – amazingly, the second successive game at the ground which ended three apiece! It was the Robins who took a 23rd minute lead when in-form striker Leroy Lita was brought down in the area and he got up to convert the resulting penalty.The hosts held that lead at the break, but the Crows hit back with three goals in 14 minutes, starting in the 55th through a Matt Bateman spot-kick awarded for handball.The crowd of 463 then saw James Brighton give the visitors a 65th minute lead and 4 minutes later, Adam Murray made it 3-1. Declan Eratt-Thompson reduced the deficit to one in the 72nd minute and 10 minutes from time, Lita pounced to equalise with his second of the game.
At the other end of the table, it’s almost all over for AFC Rushden & Diamonds as the bottom side lost 1-0 at the Trico Stadium to Redditch United. A Ryan Wollacott header 6 minutes from time eventually proved enough for the Reds.
Second-bottom Hednesford Town, however, gave themselves a lifeline by winning 1-0 at the Race Stadium against mid-table Hitchin Town. On a heavy pitch, the Pitmen took a 26th minute lead when Jordan Graham found himself in oceans of space to fire past Charlie Horlock. Hitchin came close to levelling the game in the 37th minute, but Ashley Hay’s shot came back off a post. The Pitmen are now six points behind third-bottom Bedford, having played a game more.
Stratford Town swapped places with Kings Langley in 18th and 19th after the Bards beat Alvechurch 2-0 at the Arden Garages Stadium and Kings could only draw 1-1 at home to Basford United. Stratford took a 10th minute lead with an excellent finish by Callum Ebanks. But shortly afterwards, home `keeper Liam O`Brien kept his side’s lead intact when he saved Jed Abbey’s penalty after Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton had been fouled in the area. In front of a decent crowd of 637, the Bards doubled their lead on 36 minutes through Kyle Bennett. The second half saw Alvechurch push and push but in the end were unable to penetrate a stubborn home defence and now the teams are separated by only two points.
Steve Kittrick’s first game in charge of Basford saw his new charges hold Kings Langley to a draw at the Orbital Fasteners Stadium. The hosts took the lead just after the half-hour mark Wilson De Carvalho slid home at the far post.Then, on 65 minutes, Basford were awarded a penalty when Kevin Bastos was tripped in the box and Anthony Dwyer duly converted the resulting penalty.
The day’s other game saw Stourbridge find their scoring boots at Westwood Road against St Ives Town, running out 5-1 winners. Jason Cowley gave the Glassboys an early 3rd minute lead that Stanley Anaebonam doubled on 34 minutes.In the 4th minute of first half injury-time, Ives reduced the arrears through Edmund Hottor, only for the hosts to concede a penalty 2 minutes later when keeper James Goff brought down Cowley and Anaebonam converted. Anaebonam completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute and Cowley’s second 3 minutes later made it a nap hand.


 

Win lose or draw but i think we have some of the best fans in the land. Yesterday was another fantastic advert for non league football and at end of the game a group of our fans clapped our players off then a couple of minutes later did the same to the royston players.

 Royston Town FC Retweeted    
   
Kev Richards @RTFC_tog 
Brilliantly entertaining football from both sides. A superb place to visit with a friendly atmosphere 
@ilkestontown_fc @RoystonTownFC.

https://rtfc.smugmug.com/RoystonTownFC/=0pxIlkeston-Town-FC/i-stRDdNG.  

rtfc.smugmug.com

 

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I think It's going to be like last season again, when we didn't know which league we would be in until the last minute.

I think we have a better chance of promotion in the Southern League. If we had made a better start this season we could have been in the playoffs. I really think we'll finish higher next season if we remain in the Southern League.

If we're transferred to the Northern Premier we'll probably need a season to acclimatise. On the other hand there would be more away support at our home games so bigger attendances. There have been many occasions this season when there has been very little away support, Royston and Needham being recent examples. 
The Northern Prem would be new grounds to visit but travel costs would probably be more.