.
If Deaks can pull off a win against Hebburn then there’s no doubting his powers or motivation.
On paper this is a defeat so anything else is bonus.
 

.
It’s the time in the season when occasionally form counts for nothing and teams near the bottom pick up points in their bid to avoid the drop. A defeat tomorrow and no match next week could see us in danger, especially as tough matches against Stockton and Ashton follow

Next three matches:
28 Feb   Hebburn  (H)
07 Mar   No match
14 Mar   Stockton. (H)
21 Mar.  Ashton     (A)


On 7th March when we have no match; six of the clubs in the relegation area play against each other giving them an opportunity to pick up points:
Hyde v Prescot
Rushall v Whitby
Stocksbridge v Morpeth



       

Last edited by Matchman (27/2/2026 9:34 AM)

WhiteBallProject wrote:

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So Sam Parker could be making his 100th appearance against Hebburn tomorrow


Sam Parker is our second highest scorer of goals in the league so far this season

Goalscorers this season at 27th Feb 26:

                                 Lge.    Cup.      Total
Kirby-Moore                9         2           11
Fox                              3         5            8
Parker                         7         0            7
Walker                          5         1            6
Youmbi                         5         0            5
Brandy                          4         0            4
Stevens                         2         1            3
Okyere.                          1         2            3
Thornhill                         2         0            2
Dixon                              1         1            2
Blaize                              0         2            2
Essien                             1         0            1
Daniel                              0         1            1
Odunaiya                         1         0            1

 

Last edited by Matchman (27/2/2026 4:56 PM)

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NPL Weekend Preview


With league leaders Hednesford Town not in action this weekend, Hebburn Town have a golden opportunity to climb back to the top of the Northern Premier League. 

The Hornets have drawn each of their last four games and will be hoping to end that run, while also extending their unbeaten streak to eight matches, with a win away at Ilkeston Town. That being said, a continuation of this draw streak for Daniel Moore’s men would be enough to see them end February top of the pile on goal difference, but they’ll be angling to take full advantage of Hednesford’s weekend off.

Also hoping to gain ground on Hednesford are FC United of Manchester, whose game in hand on the Pitmen comes by way of a home battle with relegation zone dwellers Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Mark Beesley’s side have drawn their last two, albeit against two fellow play-off outfits, and will be eying a return to winning ways to move within a point of Hednesford.

As for Stocksbridge, their current three-game unbeaten run has left them just two points removed from safety. On top of that, an upset win could see them out of the drop zone for the first time since early November.

Also down at the bottom, Workington’s surge in 2026 has added more fuel to an already heated relegation battle, with Billy Barr’s side now just six points adrift of safety after two wins in their last three.

They’ll be looking to make it back-to-back wins for the second time this season when they welcome Rushall Olympic to Borough Park.

The Pics are only nine points ahead of their hosts going into this weekend, and risk being dragged right back into that scrap down the bottom if they fall to defeat.

Elsewhere, Gainsborough Trinity climbed into the top five with a victory in midweek over Leek Town, and now they face a battle with Bamber Bridge to ensure they remain there for more than a few days.

The Brig have endured a tough February, which has seen their play-off hopes take a slight hit. Winless in four, they have a big opportunity to cut the gap between themselves and Gainsborough to two points with victory.

A loss for Russ Wilcox’s side would open the door for Stockton Town to regain their place in the top five, but only if they can beat the side Gainsborough defeated on Tuesday night at Harrison Park.

Leek have been a tough nut to crack at home recently, going four unbeaten in matches that have included the likes of Gainsborough and Hebburn, and will be angling for a league double over the Anchors, after they were 2-1 victors in the north-east earlier this season.

Meanwhile, Warrington Rylands are continuing to rack up the wins necessary to keep those below them with games in hand at bay, to the point where they may have their hat in a potential title race if this form continues.

They, like FC United, can move a point behind Hednesford if they can pick up a third straight victory, and a fourth win in five, away at Whitby Town.

The Seasiders have picked up a couple of hard-fought points in their last three games, but just one win in 10 has Lee Bullock and Jason Kennedy’s side teetering precariously above the drop zone.

Any result would be valuable as they aim to keep those behind them at arm's length ahead of their games in hand.

Another side looking to get back up the form guide is Morpeth Town, who welcome Ashton United to Craik Park.

A strong run of just two losses in nine had the Highwaymen well-positioned to make a break for safety, but in 2026, Craig Lynch’s side has picked up just three points out of the 21 on offer, meaning they are currently four points adrift of safety.

Ashton have been inconsistent throughout the campaign so far, and Morpeth will be hoping they can catch them on an off day to put an end to their three-game losing run.

Especially given that Hyde United, the side currently in 18th, travel to an out-of-sorts Warrington Town side, and come into it buoyed by their first win since November - a remarkable 5-0 victory over then-leaders Hednesford - the last time they were in action.

The Yellows have lost four of their last five and needed a late equaliser against Stocksbridge a fortnight ago to stop the current run being five straight defeats.

They need a pick-me-up, and a home game against a side near the bottom could be a good way to provide that, even if Hyde are still unbeaten under the recently-appointed Michael Clegg.

Three defeats in a row have Prescot Cables looking precariously over their shoulders, and they’ll be looking to put some distance between themselves and danger when they host Lancaster City.

The Dolly Blues still have hopes of a top-five finish, but just two wins since the start of December have seen those fade massively.

They’re still seven points adrift, however, and a big win at Prescot could perhaps spark a late run in the final weeks of the campaign.

And, both Cleethorpes Town and Guiseley will have confidence that they’ll be finishing in mid-table this season, but with plenty of games still remaining, nothing is set in stone yet.

Craig Rouse’s men welcome Guiseley to the Myenergi Stadium in search of three more points to move further away from being dragged into any late-season scraps down near the bottom. 

All games will kick off at 3pm, unless stated otherwise. 
Fixtures - Saturday 28 February 

• Cleethorpes Town vs Guiseley
• FC United of Manchester vs Stocksbridge Park Steels
• Gainsborough Trinity vs Bamber Bridge
• Ilkeston Town vs Hebburn Town
• Leek Town vs Stockton Town
• Morpeth Town vs Ashton United
• Prescot Cables vs Lancaster City
• Warrington Town vs Hyde United
• Whitby Town vs Warrington Rylands
• Workington vs Rushall Olympic

Last edited by Matchman (28/2/2026 12:01 PM)

Ilkeston Town
1 Roberts, 2 Anderson, 3 Abudu, 4 Whyle, 5 Marshall, 6 Parker, 7 Essien, 8 Carter, 9 Odunaiya, 10 Kirby-Moore, 11 Walker.
Bench: 12 Brandy, 14 Stevens, 15 Thornhill, 16 Youmbi, 17 Fox.

Hebburn Town
1 Cameron, 2 Heywood, 3 Turner, 4 Donaghy, 5 Elsdon, 6 Wood, 7 Martin O, 8 Briggs, 9 Martin G, 10 Murray, 11 Gomes- Carrington. 
Bench:  12 Oliver, 14 Savage, 15 Foreman, 16 Moore.


 

Last edited by Matchman (28/2/2026 2:53 PM)

It's coming up to kickoff time and the rain has stopped. 
The teams are out
Ilkeston in red .  Hebburn in all green. 
Ilkeston are attacking the car park end. 

Last edited by Matchman (28/2/2026 3:01 PM)

Chance for G Martin but he can’t quite control the long ball forward and Roberts is able to gather. Saving clearance by Parker when it looked like a certain Hebburn goal.   Ilkeston living dangerously when Hebburn attack.           0-0.   12 mins

Kirby-Moore with a decent chance hurries his shot  fires well over the bar. 
GOAL Ilkeston -   Odunaiya slams the ball home.   1-0.    21 mins

UPDATES  15:26
 
Premier League
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Northern Premier League Premier Division
Cleethorpes Town P Guiseley P
FC United of Manchester 0 Stocksbridge Park Steels 0
Gainsborough Trinity 0 Bamber Bridge 0
Ilkeston Town 1 Hebburn Town 0
Leek Town 0 Stockton Town 0
Morpeth Town 0 Ashton United 0
Prescot Cables 0 Lancaster City 1
Warrington Town 1 Hyde United 0
Whitby Town 0 Warrington Rylands 0
Workington 1 Rushall Olympic 0
 
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AFC Newbiggin 1 Yarm & Eaglescliffe 1
Billingham Synthonia 0 Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 1
Newcastle University 0 Jarrow 0

Great claim by Roberts at the feet of Gary Martin. It’s a really good game.   1-0.    34 mins

Good defending by Parker.   Hebburn corner now.  Roberts claims again.  Well played Marshall .   Odunaiya wins a corner.  It’s another corner.   Hebburn get it clear eventually.     1-0.    40 mins