With only two matches being played on Tuesday night Ilkeston have an opportunity to improve their league position. A win or a draw will take them above Mickleover to 6th. 

Morpeth are currently 15th with 12 points from 10 matches. 
They are unbeaten in their last 5 league matches with 2 wins and 3 draws  They beat Blyth 4-1 and Ashton 1-0  and earned creditable draws with Hebburn, Guiseley and Hyde. Like Ilkeston they lost on Saturday in the FA Trophy.

Morpeth's average home attendance so far is 471 and Jack Foalie is their leading scorer with six goals.

It's going to be a tough game after a long journey up there and it will be around 2 am when we get back to Ilkeston.







 

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Match Report: Workington 3 Morpeth Town 1 – FA Trophy    

Morpeth Town fell at the first hurdle as they exited the FA Trophy at the Third Qualifying Round with a 3-1 loss at Workington, writes Ross Jackson. After leading through Jack Foalle’s 14th minute strike, the Highwaymen conceded three times in the second half, firstly from Steve Rigg on the hour-mark, before a disastrous 60-second spell saw them concede on 85 and 86 minutes, with substitute Jamie Allen getting on the scoresheet and Rigg netting again.
The Highwaymen started the game well and looked more than comfortable for, certainly, the first 45 minutes.In a half of few chances, Foalle’s eighth goal of an increasingly profitable campaign was the first of note as Morpeth settled into the game. After Fenton John had been chopped down seconds earlier in a similar move, Workington failed to heed the warning, allowing the midfielder to dart inside and thread a through ball for Foalle to latch on to and lash into the back of the net. Workington were offering little in the opposite direction as Town worked hard off the ball and countered with pace and menace. The best chance for the hosts arrived on the stroke of half time but, after working the ball to an unmarked Josh Galloway with just keeper Dan Langley to beat, the winger lashed wildly over the bar.
Leading by a single goal and showing composure on the ball, the Highwaymen simply needed more of the same in the second half. Instead, Workington upped the ante and the visitors couldn’t keep up. The equaliser came on 60 minutes through Rigg, the striker following up after David Symington’s superb effort cannoned off the inside of the post leaving Rigg with the chance to slot home. Town then had a string of chances to retake the lead just after the goal, a corner nearly whipping into the back of the net seconds after the restart before Luke James’ effort was fielded comfortably by Reds keeper Alex Mitchell. Morpeth should have been ahead on 70 minutes following Nic Bollado’s cut-back, but Foalle and John collided with each other with both trying to get a shot away. Both sides either didn’t want a penalty shootout to decide matters or sensed a winner was there to be had. After both Symington and Bollado had near post efforts that were either off target or saved, the decisive minute would arrive on 85 minutes.First, Allen slammed home a rebound after Morpeth gifted possession allowing fellow substitute Tom Stephenson to maraud down the right flank. Then, just seconds later, Rigg strode clear to fire home at the near post to turn a nervy finish into a procession.
Town exit the FA Trophy but will seek to bounce back with a home double-header in the league next week, starting with Ilkeston Town on Tuesday before Whitby Town visit Craik Park on Saturday.

WORKINGTON: Mitchell, Little, Fitzpatrick, Kamara, Swinglehurst, Ambrose, Symington, Nugent, Rigg, Norris, Galloway. SUBS: Wilkinson, McCarron, Stephenson, Allen, Hubbold.
MORPETH TOWN: Langley, Evans, Robson, Dowling, Henderson, King, John, Barlow, Foalle, Bollado, James. SUBS: Wombwell, Chater, Griggs.
ATT: 592


 

Last edited by Matchman (07/10/2024 3:32 AM)

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Hopefully Connor Dixon will be back following his suspension. He makes a massive difference. 
And Lindon Meikle had a good match against Coleshill following his injury problems so we should be stronger in midfield.  We should also have Tom Marshall and Colin Daniel back. 
On a personal note -  I'd like to see Koby Eratt-Thompson in the squad. 


 

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Not much pre-match talk on the socials about this match presumably because a lot of the regular away fans can't make it due to the early leave time and the time we get back after the game. But it's an important match (as all matches are) and us supporters without work commitments will be there as usual. So not the usual volume of support for the team during the game. 
But it's great that we can go to grounds like Morpeth and indeed all grounds, with genuine optimism that we can get a result. All games in this league are tough but after Saturday's FA Trophy disappointment at the NMG it's an opportunity to return to winning ways. The long journey doesn't help but we'll give it our best shot.
Three points would be brilliant and would strengthen our position on the edge of the playoffs.



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kevilsonlad wrote:

Are we actually at the bare bones as players fit wise . Brandy was struggling for ages Sat before finally being taken off. He kept looking at the bench thinking he would be taken off but it took a while .
Plus I heard Tom wasn't match fit last Sat that's why he was on the bench.

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Okay Kev, we've got a few injuries and probably won't have our first choice team tonight, but we've got a decent squad and I'm still optimistic we can come away with a result. Tonight could be the night one of the squad players (like Casey Johnson) steps up and wins us the game. We're also overdue a goal from Jamie Walker. We can usually count on one goal from Tom Cursons so if we defend like we can, then we have chance.

               



 

Last edited by Matchman (08/10/2024 10:45 AM)

Hope the long journey is worth while guys , bring the three points back . Have a good un

We've arrived at Morpeth where it's been raining all day apparently. We're waiting for team sheets.

 I'm in the stand under cover now and it's absolutely pouring with rain with ten minutes to go before kickoff .

It's a grim night and Morpeth officials are saying it will be a poor gate because of the rain.  

Last edited by Matchman (08/10/2024 5:38 PM)

Come on ilson

The ball is flying off the wet surface. Meikle almost puts Cursons through but the ball hits his heel.     0-0.  9 mins

Ilkeston corner won by Dixon.  Keeper grabs the ball on the line. Cursons breaks down the right and defender concedes a throw in. Could have produced more.          0-0.    22 mins

 Henderson gets yellow for foul on Cursons. Free kick in good position . Stevens tries to catch out keeper with a near post shot. the keeper doen't get to it  but its just wide.     0-0.   32 mins

Last edited by Matchman (09/10/2024 12:39 AM)

Ilkeston are on top just now.   Morpeth header from a free kick is easily held by Yates.  Big chance for Cursons but he can't beat the keeper. Should have scored.      0-0.    39 mins

You watch them get a soft penalty

We're off again......