Walker effort nearly catches out Bland. Whitby are defending in numbers and so far and Ilkeston can’t create anything.     0-1.   61 mins

Ilkeston free kick in good position on the “D”.  Shot deflected wide then Brandy’s corner kick drifts behind. Chace for Fox but he puts it wide.
0-1.   69 mins
 

Another booking (Whitby player).   Youmbi crosses and Fox header is too high . What a chance that was. Should have scored.      0-1.  76 mins
 

Great cross by Dixon,  Keeper tips it over.  Ilkeston making a real effort now.       0-1.     81 mins

So close again. It won't go in.    Corner ilkeston.  Whitby hang ing on.  

5 minutes added time. 

Ilkeston free kick.   last chance.    ref has gone over to the dugouts.    Looks like Deaks is sent off.  

.
Sat 6th September 2025
Northern Premier League
Ilkeston Town 0  Whitby Town 1 

A goal after just 4 minutes by Aaron Haswell followed by a red card for Tom Marshall was enough to seal Ilkeston’s fate. The Robins tried hard to retrieve the situation in the second half but couldn’t find the net. 

Whitby’s opener followed a great forward run by Connor Smith whose clever pass gave Haswell the chance to fire past advancing Dylan Wharton. This was followed by a period without clear chances for either side until first Sam Parker and then Jordan Stevens tested Whitby keeper Shane Bland. Whitby then had a great chance to double their lead when Donald Chimalilo was through on goal but drilled the ball wide as Wharton came out to challenge. At the other end Sam Essien surged past two defenders but hit his shot over the bar. On 36 minutes Tom Marshall talked his way into the book after being penalised. Four minutes later he paid dearly for his indiscretion when he got a second yellow card for another foul leaving his team with an uphill battle. Just before half time Whitby skipper Matt Tymon was close to making it 2-0 when his lob from distance fell the wrong side of the post with Wharton out of position. 

Despite being a man short it was Ilkeston pushing forward and Whitby defending in numbers after the restart.  There was a chance for Robbie Fox but he screwed his shot wide then Whitby created a real opportunity on the break through Chimalilo whose shot sailed over the bar. On 76 minutes came Ilkeston’s best chance of a leveller. Dylan Youmbi did brilliantly down the right before crossing and finding the head of Fox at the far post, but the striker's close range header was off target. Connor Dixon then saw his cross shot tipped over the bar by Bland. In the final ten minutes Ilkeston had a real go. Colin Daniel did superbly before his thunderous low cross was deflected agonisingly over the bar. The over officious referee dished out 8 yellow cards and 2 red cards which included dismissing Ilkeston manager Ian Deakin just before the end. 


 

Last edited by Matchman (07/9/2025 6:25 AM)

silverfoxx wrote:

Well, 
let’s say Whitby we’re not a very good side, and we lost.
The ref set his stall out early on and was poor all the game, but the players didn’t heed and read the room. Tom paid the penalty and with 11 men would we have scored ?
We never looked like scoring and if we were still playing now we wouldn’t have.
Fox seems out of his depth, LV was again consistent running down blind alleys trying to be too fancy instead of doing the simple stuff. Jamie on his 200th appearance didn’t seem up for it. Steven’s free kicks were poor and  mostly all wasted. Janneh had a decent debut Essen and Youmbi as usual both had good games. Still not sold on Wharton. 

As seems to be our style of late we hammer away for the last 15 minutes and come away with nothing, last season we would have got something.

It’s early I know but it’s going to be long hard season.

Deaks post match interview was poor quality but I just wonder if he was watching the same game as me.
 

Totally agree with all that. I'll add that this squad is no way good enough for this level... We've been sold short this year, and no-one, least of all the manager, seems inclined to do anything about it. Our 2 strikers don't look like they'll get double figures between them... As you say long hard season... I'm calling relegation right now, it's that bleak!

Last edited by pezamb (06/9/2025 10:42 PM)

i put on facebook that we were better in the last minutes and should have scored when Robbie had a great chance with the header late on . Guess what he  liked what i said so acknowledged that he should have scored so fair play to him....

Also it's getting Increasingly Frustrating Seeing Players being Played out of Position quite Regularly. Jordan Stevens is not a Right Back nor is Jamie Walker a Left back. Wasn't Colin Daniel Left back against Spalding? Obvious the Balance to the Squad is all Wrong.

Tom Curson’s - not been in the Harrogate match day squad recently, don’t know if he’s injured or not. If not and he needs game time come “ home “ on loan.