Good turn in the area by Fox but the ball is cleared. Good catch by Wharton off Blisset's head.  Brandy shot hits Dixon.  Fox doing well tonight . His good run is halted by lino flag for ball out of play which Fox strongly disputes. He was in on goal.     0-0.   53 mins
 

Brandy is also on form tonight .  Should be Ilkeston corner but goal kick given. Great saving header by Parker.  Header from the corner goes over the bar.      0-0.   57 mins

Youmbi wins a corner on the right. Pitmen clear .  2 Hednesford subs on 63 mins. Free kick Hednesford  wide right.  We get it away.   Fox shot is blocked after great interception and forward run by Parker .  Brill effort by Fox is inches wide.   0-0.    67 mins

First yellow is to Marshall . McHale shot goes over.  Hednesford edging it just now.       0-0.    74 mins

Att 1488 (inc 47 from Ilkeston)

All out assault by Pitmen  Header goes wide.  Wharton tips a dangerous cross over the bar under immense pressure.   Hednesford 0 Ilkeston 1.   87 mins



 

Last edited by Matchman (09/9/2025 9:31 PM)

Ilkeston taking their time now.  Walker boots clear.   It’s Hednesford pressing now and the ref has given them a penalty

The ref has sent off Daniel.

Full Time.  Hednesford 2 Ilkeston 1

FINAL SCORES 21:53
 
World Cup Qualifying
Serbia 0 England 5 ft
 
EFL Trophy
Mansfield Town 0 Harrogate Town 1 ft
 
Northern Premier League Premier Division
Ashton United 1 Bamber Bridge 1 ft
Guiseley 3 Prescot Cables 1 ft
Hednesford Town 2 Ilkeston Town 1 ft
Hyde United 1 Leek Town 2 ft
Lancaster City 2 Warrington Rylands 0 ft
Morpeth Town 1 Hebburn Town 1 ft
Warrington Town 0 Rushall Olympic 0 ft
Whitby Town 1 Stockton Town 1 ft
Workington 0 FC United of Manchester 0 ft
 
Southern League Premier Central
Harborough Town 1 Quorn 0 ft
Kettering Town 2 Spalding United 4 ft
Stratford Town 4 Barwell 1 ft
 
Northern Premier League Midland
Shepshed Dynamo 3 St Neots Town 1 ft
 
Northern League Division One
Northallerton Town 0 Newcastle Blue Star 2 ft
 
Northern League Division Two
AFC Newbiggin 0 FC Hartlepool 1 ft

Wharton didn’t know what to do with himself at full time. 

.
Tue 9th September 2025
Northern Premier League
Hednesford Town 2 Ilkeston Town 1

In the cruelest of finishes, what would have been a famous victory became a devastating defeat. Ilkeston didn’t deserve to lose but came away with nothing after a nightmare ending at Keys Park. In the 4th of six added minutes the referee pointed to spot enabling Hednesford to draw level. Colin Daniel was show a straight red card in the aftermath for asking what the penalty was for and the Pitmen struck again with a coup de grâce by Dom McHale right at the end.

It started so well with Ilkeston having the better of the first half. Dylan Youmbi in particular was causing  Hednesford problems with his willingness to take on defenders. Ilkeston’s first chance fell to Robbie Fox who got past his defender but saw his effort blocked. L’Varn Brandy was also having success while Hednesford were pinging long balls forward to the dangerous Nathan Blissett. A first time volley from Joss Labadie tested Dylan Wharton while Hednesford keeper Tony Breeden was forced to parry Tom Marshall’s effort at the other end. Hednesford’s best opportunity fell to Labadie just before half time but there was still time for Daniel to fire inches wide for Ilkeston.

The second started with Fox creating a chance for himself but his effort was deflected wide. Then Wharton did well to take the ball off Blissett’s head under immense pressure in the crowded goalmouth. Fox had a couple of chances, the second of which was only just wide with Breeden beaten. In the final 15 minutes Hednesford started to gain control but It was Ilkeston who took the lead through Jordan Stevens from a free kick. He spotted a gap which Breeden and his defenders had left and accurately fired home on 81 minutes. The Pitmen came storming back and Wharton had to tip over Chis Hussey’s fine effort. Ilkeston seemed to be coping until the referee awarded Hednesford a penalty chance to rescue a point which they gratefully took, converted by Dan Turner. As if that wasn’t hard enough to take, Hednesford scored again through McHale to ruin Ilkeston’s night.


 

You'd have to have a heart of stone not to feel for our lads last night. Perfect away performance for 90 minutes, not so good in injury time. Things are just not running for us at the moment, but you stick at it and keep working hard and things will turn around. MoM for me would be the back 4, Stevens, Walker, Parker, Marshall. Defended resolutely and snuffed out everything Hednesford threw at them (well, nearly). Tom Marshall continuing to do what Tom Marshall does, one good game, one bad game, one good game, one bad game ... Jeez, Hednesford were poor. Long ball hoofball all night. The midfields didn't get much of a look in as it went from one end of the pitch to another and then back again - sat in the stand it was often more like watching a tennis match, head to the left, head to the right, head to the left, head to the right.

They put pressure on us after we scored and you just felt like the ref was itching to give Hednesford something. It did look like a penalty from where I was sat, but I'd like to see it again. You have to say, a howler from Wharton for their second. Did it bounce in front of him, but still, it should have been a comfortable save. And when you think about Spalding's first goal, the complete miskick, you start to have doubts. Some of his kicking was dreadful as well, with the ball going straight out. Hope the lad hangs in there and gets through this sticky patch.

Not sure how many subs Hednesford made, certainly 4, maybe 5, they've clearly got a strong squad, but the only change we made was an enforced one - Kirby-Moore for an injured Brandy. But who did we have to bring on to change things? All we had was an injured Matt Thornhill, 2 centre halves (Janneh and Whyle), and the young lad Sulkowski.

One nil up after 82 minutes and full of hope to conceding 2 in injury time and losing. Heartbreaking. The life of a footy fan.

Might only have been 47 Ilkeston fans, but they're the ones you could hear singing, all through the second half. Brilliant support. Hednesford have clearly spent a lot of money, terrific stadium and a fantastic pitch.

I think if it was us I would have been going mad and I would be wanting a penalty.

Criminal of the keeper to get beaten like that. Unbelievable that we let Yates go and replaced him with that.

Daniel should've kept his head as one if the only senior players we have.

It feels like, yes we are getting sponsors in and corporate bookings and the like... But the team is being neglected... And where are the young players coming through?

I love to remain positive and even had us down for a win, but there feels like something isn't right at the top