. After losing our last two matches we desperately need to return to winning ways. A lot of people thought Hednesford would be runaway league leaders but it’s not happened so far. They started well with 3 straight wins but since then they’ve lost 2 and drawn 2. But it’s still a very difficult game for us. 

Thanks hednesford for the heads up with tickets

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Hednesford’s Match Preview
https://htfc.co.uk/2025/09/hednesford-town-v-ilkeston-town/

Hednesford Town V Ilkeston Town
7 September 2025

On Tuesday 9th September Northern Premier League Premier Division football returns to Keys Park when Ilkeston Town make the journey over to Staffordshire from Derbyshire.
When returning to the Northern Premier League in 2023/24 following lateral movement from the Southern League, they finished in 11th place with 60 points from 40 games and last season were three points outside of the play-off places when they were sixth with 66 points from 42 games.
This season sees them in 13th place with nine points from seven games, two points and five places below Hednesford. Their three away games have seen just one win on the opening day 2-1 at Morpeth and two defeats, 0-1 at Warrington Town and 0-2 at Bamber Bridge. Their home form is better with two wins, 2-0 against Prescot Cables and 3-0 versus Hyde to go with two 0-1 defeats against Gainsborough Trinity and Whitby Town along with a 1-2 FA Cup defeat against Spalding. Their goal scorers this season are Jamie Walker with two including one in the FA Cup while Connor Dixon, L’Varn Brandy, Robbie Fox, Rooney Youmbi and Jordan Stevens all have one. Last week the club announced the signing of Essa Janneh a centre back from Stratford Town.
The Pitmen are undefeated at home so far this season with two league wins and a draw to go with the FA Cup win over Basford. Away from home they have lost twice and won once to go with Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Warrington Rylands when they came back from conceding two first half goals to earn a point thanks to goals from Jake Jervis and Nathan Blissett.
Ahead of the game, Manager Gavin Hurren, said: “Ilkeston are a well-established side at Step 3 and have made no secret of their ambition to push higher. We know we’ll need to be switched on and play with the same intensity and discipline that has served us well so far.”
Kick off on Tuesday night is at 7.45pm with admission being £13 adults, £10 concessions, 17-18, and disabled (non-wheelchair access), £5 U16 and free for U10s but all U16s must be accompanied by a paying adult. 

Supporters are advised to use the FanBase app to purchase tickets although cash or card payments can be made at the ticket office up to 30 minutes before kick-off.


Message to travelling Ilkeston supporters:
According to the above, It looks like you can't buy a ticket after 7.15pm  so don't leave it too late to get your match ticket.


​
 

Last edited by Matchman (08/9/2025 9:34 AM)

We played them in the 2022/2023 season John, when we were both in the Southern League - Premier Central. Beat them 4-1 at home and drew 2-2 away. Lita and Fenton scored for us in the away fixture and I remember Jack Thomas missing a sitter to win it for us late on.

https://whiteballproject.boardhost.com/viewtopic.php?id=1706

Hednesford got relegated that season ...

https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/southern-football-league-premier-central-division/league-table/2022-2023

I watched Morpeth play Hednesford a couple of weeks ago and Morpeth won 1-0. When the game kicked off Hednesford looked far more confident and were playing the ball around with ease. However they did not create any chances and although they played football at the back they always resorted to long balls to the front men. Slowly Morpeth worked out that Hednesford were not as good as they looked ans started to press their defence. Hednesford started to get a bit ruffled particularly Winter at the back. Eventually Morpeth got the goal that they were looking for. After the goal Hednesford did not really find a way of breaking down Morpeths enthusiastic defence and the game ended 1-0. To be frank Hednesford are a physical unit with some big defenders, one of whom was the best player on the park. Freeman in midfield was good but otherwise they looked a bit ordinary. If Ilkeston put a press on them Hednesford might struggle they could not play through Morpeth but went route one. I would also put the keeper under pressure when he has the ball at his feet he looked actually like an old school keeper who would rather have ig in his hands plus I would not play high balls into the box they will deal with them all day.

Hednesford 
1 Breeden, 2Morgan, 3 Hussey 4 Labadie, 5 Harrison, 6 Wynter, 7 Rose, 8 Doyle-Charles, 9 Blissett, 10 McHale, 11 Jervis.
Bench: 17 Brown, 12 Maye, 14 Johnson, 15 Turner, 16 Trickett-Smith

Ilkeston
1 Wharton, 2 Stevens, 3 Walker, 4 Parker, 5 Marshall, 6 Dixon, 7 Brandy  8 Essien, 9 Fox, 10 Daniel, 11 Youmbi.
Banch : 12 Thornhill, 13 Sulkowski, 14 Whyle, 15 Janneh, 16 Kirby-Moore .

Last edited by Matchman (09/9/2025 6:23 PM)

Only 5 minutes to kickoff now. 

They have so many staff here. 

Here come the teams right below where I am seated

Hednesford in white shirts and black shorts.    Ilkeston in redshirts, red shorts.

Last edited by Matchman (09/9/2025 6:45 PM)

Corner straight away for the Pitmen.  Shot goes out of the ground.  Good block by Parker.   McHale shot is over the bar.    0-0.   5 mins

Half a chance for Ilkeston but it’s only a corner. Grat play by Fox getting past the defender but his cross is cut out.  Great cross by Stevens but no one on the end of it.     0-0.  17 mins 

Good run by Brandy until he’s fouled. Ilkeston have settled now.  Good play by big man Blisset and his shot is blocked.  Labadie first timer saved well by Wharton.      Drinks break.      0-0.     23 mins

Last edited by Matchman (09/9/2025 7:11 PM)

Ilkeston free kick.   What a save by Breeden. Then Fox Fires wide under pressure.
Blissettshot at other end is well wide.     0-0.   33 mins

Another great run by Brandy bu Walker's cross is too strong and goes out of play.  Free kick To the Pitmen in a good position. Nothing from it.     0-0.    40 mins

UPDATES 20:45
 
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