WhiteBallProject / Sat 15 Mar '25 : Ilkeston Town v Lancaster City. : NMG ko 3pm

**Posted by Matchman** 09/3/2025 9:48 AM

.
Went to see Lancaster at Basford yesterday and they look a very strong side, They could have been three up before Basford registered a shot on goal but for Saul Deeney who made three excellent saves. Lancaster's No. 3 Charlie Bailey (attacking wing back) was superb and was the source of Lancaster's best attacks down the left side of the pitch. City were good value for their 4-0 lead when the game was abandoned five minutes from time due to the horrible injury to the Basford player.

If the match has to be replayed it and Lancaster don't win it, it would be incredibly tough on the Dolly Blues and a massive stroke of fortune for Basford in their battle to stay up.

Lancaster are 15th in the league table but looked as good as any team I've seen this season. (Or was it because Basford had an off day?) I've just checked the Lancaster team when we played against them earlier in the season. Charlie Bailey played in the No. 8 shirt so he looks like a player who is good enough to play in any position.

After watching Lancaster yesterday, our match against them looks much tougher then I originally thought.

**Posted by Trowell Nicky** 09/3/2025 2:43 PM

Josh Barnes was the injured Basford player. It looked horrible. Broken ankle and fibula. He undergoes surgery today. Good luck to the lad.

The injury happened around the 85 minute mark. With the player still down and waiting for an ambulance, the ref blew the final whistle when the scoreboard was showing 92 minutes. Does the score stand and it's a completed game (can both sides agree to this?) or is it an abandoned game that has to be replayed?

**Posted by Matchman** 10/3/2025 9:09 AM

.
We have eight matches to play now starting with Lancaster City at the NMG

Last season our last eight matches produced 19 points (6 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss)

Sat 23 Mar 24 A. Guiseley 2 - 1. Cursons (2)
Sat 30 Mar 24. H. Bradford (P A) 2 - 2 Cursons, Eratt-Thompson
Mon 1 Apr 24. A. Matlock Town 2 - 1 White, Minkley
Sat 6 Apr 24. H. Atherton Colls 3 - 0. Cursons, Minkley, Hutchinson
Sat 13 Apr 24. A. Ashton United 2 - 1. Wafula, Cursons
Tue 16 Apr 24 A. Bamber Bridger. 4 - 1. Miekle, Marshall, Cursons, Walker (pen)
Sat 20 Apr 24. H. Morpeth Town. 3 - 2. Marshall, Wafula, Cursons
Sat 27 Apr 24. A. Warrington Rylands. 0 - 2

A repeat of that 19 points haul is the mountainous task ahead to take us into the playoffs .
19 points would give us 71 points (almost certainly enough )
16 points would give us 68 points (possibly enough)

If we can beat Lancaster then Stockton then we have a chance of producing an incredible ending to the season.
Win these two matches and the dream is alive.

Stockton go to Ashton this coming Saturday. If they lose and we beat Lancaster, then we're only 2 points behind them before we play against each other the following week.

**Posted by Matchman** 11/3/2025 9:22 AM

Okay, we must find a way to beat Lancaster to keep our season alive. We all know that the reason for our six games without a win is our failure to score goals but somehow we've got to overcome that problem. In our last 8 matches we've never scored more than one goal and it's very rare that one goal will win a game.
Jamie Walker is our best header of a ball so let's play him up front. We then need Hardwick, Abdullah or Kirby-Moore to get us some goals. Saturday must be treated as if it were our playoff semifinal.
A win against Lancaster dramatically changes our playoff prospects

Lancaster's away record is slightly better than their home record.
Their away record is: P17, W6, D4, L7, F23, A25, Pts 22.
In their last match they trounced Basford 4-0.

It appears that the Lancaster v Basford abandoned match score now stands as a result as the NPL have now included it the league table.

Last edited by Matchman (11/3/2025 4:15 PM)

**Posted by Matchman** 12/3/2025 11:26 AM

.
Here are the fixtures for this weekend:

Fixtures Sat 15th March 25
Ashton v Stockton.
Bamber Bridge v Matlock.
Blyth v W Rylands
FC United v Leek.
Guiseley v Mickleover.
Ilkeston v Lancaster
Morpeth v Macclesfield.
Prescot v Hebburn
Whitby v Basford
Workington v Gainsborough.
Worksop v Hyde.

Preview of NPL matches - Sat 15th March 2025
Macclesfield will be champions this weekend if they win at Morpeth and Worksop fail to win against Hyde United. Worksop have won their last six but Hyde still have hopes of making the playoffs. Guiseley will hope to consolidate their 3rd place position at home to struggling Mickleover.
Gainsborough’s eight game unbeaten run has given them a real chance of stealing the final play off spot but they have a tough match at Workington. Stockton’s playoff ambitions could be held up at Ashton United while Ilkeston must win against Lancaster to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Warrington Rylands will stay in contention if they win at Blyth. Meanwhile Hebburn’s early good form has fallen away with only one win in their last twelve matches and they go to Prescot Cables who have won five of their last six home games.
At the other end of the table Bamber Bridge and Matlock, currently separated by just one point, meet in one of two crucial relegation survival battles. The second is at Whitby where the Seasiders take on Basford United. Leek, who are only 3 points above the relegation line, have a tough trip to FC United.

Last edited by Matchman (12/3/2025 11:28 AM)

**Posted by Matchman** 12/3/2025 5:37 PM

.
Lancaster City Football Club @LancasterCityFC
𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀
Third away day on the spin as we head to Derbyshire.
Sat 15 Mar, 15:00 New Manor Ground, DE7 8JF
£13 Adults, £9 Concessions, £2 U16s, U11s FREE

12 Mar 2025

**Posted by Matchman** 13/3/2025 6:46 AM

.
As far as the playoffs are concerned, our remaining matches will be like playing in a cup competition. If we lose we're probably out of contention. A win against Lancaster would give us the opportunity to turn the tables on Stockton who came to the NMG and beat us last month. But first we have to beat Lancaster to keep our hopes alive. This is the biggest game at the NMG for a long while.

If we could beat Lancaster and then beat Stockton it would give us 58 points with six more games to play and a real chance of finishing in the final playoff spot. In the 2022-23 season Matlock made the playoffs with 68 points and I reckon that may be enough this season.

It's 10 years since Ilkeston made the playoffs so let's get behind the team the team and give it our best shot.

Last edited by Matchman (13/3/2025 8:54 AM)

**Posted by Matchman** 13/3/2025 12:12 PM

.
FootballWebPages predicted final league table has Stockton finishing in the final playoff place with 67 points

https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/northern-premier-league-premier-division/league-table/predicted

Last edited by Matchman (13/3/2025 12:15 PM)

**Posted by WhiteBallProject** 13/3/2025 1:13 PM

It also predicts that Stockton will beat Ilkeston 1-0. So if we beat them or even draw we should get in the play offs! I have followed their predictions before and they are generally relatively accurate but the week I used them as an aide for my predictions they were totally wrong!

**Posted by Matchman** 13/3/2025 2:44 PM

.
Come on Ilkeston fans . Let's win this game for Ryan and all other people suffering in silence.

**Posted by Matchman** 14/3/2025 12:30 PM

.

Ilkeston (6th) on 52 points have a great chance of improving their playoff chances tomorrow if they can beat Lancaster as four of their rivals are likely to drop points.

Stockton Town (5th) on 56 points have a tough match at Ashton United
Morpeth Town (7th) on 51 points host champions elect Macclesfield
Hyde United (9th) on 48 points have a tough match at Worksop
Gainsborough (10th) on 48 points travel to Workington

Warr. Rylands (8th) on 51points have the least difficult match away to Blyth.

Last edited by Matchman (15/3/2025 4:00 AM)

**Posted by Matchman** 15/3/2025 4:17 AM

.Macclesfield out to secure promotion | NPL preview | Saturday 15 March
14 Mar 2025. by JDG Media

Macclesfield will look to mathematically confirm their promotion to the National League North this weekend when they travel to play-off hopefuls Morpeth Town. Robbie Savage's side know that victory on Saturday will be enough to seal the title, but only if second-placed Worksop Town drop points at home to Hyde United. With seven wins in their last eight matches, the Silkmen come into this one in good form but know Morpeth will be no pushovers, given the Highwaymen are just five points adrift of the top five and have picked up 20 points from their last 10 games.

Worksop's task also looks a tough one, with their opponents Hyde also harbouring slim hopes of a play-off finish. Elsewhere, one of the fixtures of the weekend sees fourth play fifth, with Ashton United welcoming Stockton Town to Hurst Cross. The Robins are winless in four and will hope to address their mini-slump to fend off the chasing pack. In contrast, Stockton have strengthened their top-five berth with seven points from their last three matches.

Third-placed Guiseley host Mickleover, who find themselves nine points from safety and in dire need of results to boost their survival hopes.

Outside of the top five, Ilkeston Town face Lancaster City while Warrington Rylands return to action with a trip to Blyth Spartans, who have picked up three league wins all season and look set for Step 4 football next season.

Fresh from a midweek victory over Blyth, Gainsborough Trinity will hope to continue their charge up the division when they visit Workington. The Holy Blues are eight games unbeaten and could end the weekend five points adrift of the play-offs, depending on the outcome of other games.

Hebburn Town, another of the sides starting the weekend in the top half, travel to Prescot Cables. Cables are three places below their opponents in the table, but with much of their best work this season coming at home, they will look to cause a surprise at Hope Street.

Should Hebburn slip up, FC United of Manchester could rise above them with victory over Leek Town. Mark Beesley's Reds have lost just one of their last eight matches and will hope to keep their positive run run of results going, while Leek enter the weekend three points above the bottom four and remain in need of results to steer them clear of the relegation zone.

In the weekend's other games, there are two huge showdowns at the wrong end of the table as Bamber Bridge host Matlock Town and Whitby Town welcome Basford United to the Yorkshire Coast. Bamber Bridge start the weekend a point above the drop zone but would see Matlock climb above them with victory at the SFC Stadium. Nevertheless, three points have been hard to come by recently for Ryan Cresswell's Gladiators, whose last league win came on January 14. Whitby and Basford are also firmly in the relegation mix, the Seasiders one point above the bottom four and the Lions five points from safety. Basford ended a run of 10 straight league defeats away from home with a 1-1 draw at Stockton Town at the start of the month, and they know that further positive results on the road will be required if they're to avoid the drop.

Fixtures - Saturday 15 March

Ashton United vs Stockton Town
Bamber Bridge vs Matlock Town
Blyth Spartans vs Warrington Rylands
FC United of Manchester vs Leek Town
Guiseley vs Mickleover
Ilkeston Town vs Lancaster City
Morpeth Town vs Macclesfield
Prescot Cables vs Hebburn Town
Whitby Town vs Basford United
Workington vs Gainsborough Trinity
Worksop Town vs Hyde United

**Posted by Matchman** 15/3/2025 9:13 AM

.
Today is Match Day No 35 of 42

Six games without a win has left our playoff chances barely smouldering. But a win today could provide the spark needed to re-ignite the flames of hope.

Defeat today almost certainly ends any lingering hopes but a victory gives us the chance to become playoff favourites if we can beat Stockton the following Saturday.

Everything changes with a win.

*************************************

With both Forest and Derby playing away from home this weekend, why not come down to the Microlise New Manor Ground for your Saturday afternoon football as we host Lancaster City in a vital Northern Premier League match affecting our playoff chances
Sat 15th March, Microlise New Manor Ground, DE7 8JF, 3pm
£13 Adults, £9 Concessions, £2 U16s, U11s FREE with a paying adult

Last edited by Matchman (15/3/2025 9:34 AM)

**Posted by WhiteBallProject** 15/3/2025 10:47 AM

**Posted by WhiteBallProject** 15/3/2025 10:48 AM

**Posted by WhiteBallProject** 15/3/2025 10:48 AM

**Posted by WhiteBallProject** 15/3/2025 10:49 AM

**Posted by WhiteBallProject** 15/3/2025 10:49 AM

**Posted by WhiteBallProject** 15/3/2025 10:49 AM

**Posted by WhiteBallProject** 15/3/2025 11:08 AM

ROUND UP 15:00

Premier League
Ipswich Town 0 Nottingham Forest 0

Championship
Plymouth Argyle 0 Derby County 0

League One
Shrewsbury Town 0 Burton Albion 0
Mansfield Town 0 Barnsley 0

League Two
Notts County 0 Chesterfield 0

National League North
Brackley Town 0 Buxton 0
Alfreton Town 0 Oxford City 0

Northern Premier League Premier Division
Ashton United 0 Stockton Town 0
Bamber Bridge 0 Matlock Town 0
Blyth Spartans 0 Warrington Rylands 0
FC Unitedof Manchester 0 Leek Town 0
Guiseley 0 Mickleover 0
Ilkeston Town 0 Lancaster City 0
Morpeth Town 0 Macclesfield 0
Prescot Cables 0 Hebburn Town 0
Whitby Town 0 Basford United 0
Workington 0 Gainsborough Trinity 0
Worksop Town 0 Hyde United 0

Northern Premier League East
Ashington 0 Belper Town 0
Bridlington Town 0 Sherwood Colliery 0
Ossett United 0 Heaton Stannington 0
Stocksbridge Park Steels 0 Carlton Town 0

Northern Premier League Midland
Hinckley LRFC 0 Quorn 0
Loughborough Students 0 Anstey Nomads 0
Lye Town 0 Shepshed Dynamo 0
Sutton Coldfield Town 0 Long Eaton United 0

Lowland League
Broomhill 0 Berwick Rangers 0

Northern League Division Two
Newcastle University 0 FC Hartlepool 0

Ex Robins Round Up

**Posted by Matchman** 15/3/2025 2:10 PM

Ilkeston Town team
1 Yates, 2 McDonald, 3 Charles, 4 Meikle, 5 Marshall, 6 Parker, 7 Brandy, 8 Daniel, 9 Kirby-Moore, 10 Dixon, 11 Walker.
Bench: 12 Essien, 14 Eratt-Thompson-, 15 Minkley, 16 Abdullah, 17 Hardwick

Ian Deakin is suspnded from the dugout for today's match and will watch the game from the stand.

Lancaster City
1 Dowling, 2 Bailey S, 3 Bailey C, 4 Haughey, 5 Beeden, 6 Bjork, 7 Sloan, 8 McClean, 9 Mansell, 10 Caine, 11 Cusani.
Bench: 12 Shaw, 14 Moonan, 15 Lawson, 16 Cook, 17 Chiduba Edward Elewa-ikpakwu.

Last edited by Matchman (15/3/2025 2:37 PM)

**Posted by Matchman** 15/3/2025 2:52 PM

Less than 10 minutes to kickoff and it looks like a poor attendance for such an important game.

Ilkeston are in red and wite. Lancaster City are in all pink

The teams are out.

ilkeston start by defending the car park end.

We're off......

Last edited by Matchman (15/3/2025 3:00 PM)

**Posted by Matchman** 15/3/2025 3:11 PM

Strong start by City pushing Ilkeston back in the early minutes. Good play by Dixon earns Ilkeston a corner. Parker header turned round the post. 0-0. 11 mins

**Posted by WhiteBallProject** 15/3/2025 3:14 PM

ROUND UP 15:17

Premier League
Ipswich Town 0 Nottingham Forest 0

Championship
Plymouth Argyle 0 Derby County 1

League One
Shrewsbury Town 0 Burton Albion 0
Mansfield Town 1 Barnsley 0

League Two
Notts County 0 Chesterfield 0

National League North
Brackley Town 0 Buxton 0
Alfreton Town 0 Oxford City 0

Northern Premier League Premier Division
Ashton United 0 Stockton Town 0
Bamber Bridge 0 Matlock Town 0
Blyth Spartans 0 Warrington Rylands 0
FC United of Manchester 0 Leek Town 1
Guiseley 0 Mickleover 0
Ilkeston Town 0 Lancaster City 0
Morpeth Town 0 Macclesfield 0
Prescot Cables 0 Hebburn Town 0
Whitby Town 1 Basford United 0
Workington 0 Gainsborough Trinity 0
Worksop Town 0 Hyde United 0

Northern Premier League East
Ashington 0 Belper Town 0
Bridlington Town 0 Sherwood Colliery 0
Ossett United 0 Heaton Stannington 0
Stocksbridge Park Steels 0 Carlton Town 0

Northern Premier League Midland
Hinckley LRFC 0 Quorn 1
Loughborough Students 0 Anstey Nomads 0
Lye Town 0 Shepshed Dynamo 0
Sutton Coldfield Town 0 Long Eaton United 0

Lowland League
Broomhill 0 Berwick Rangers 0

Northern League Division Two
Newcastle University 0 FC Hartlepool 0

Ex Robins Round Up
Marcus Harness is highest ranked Ex Robin on how as he starts for Derby County
Dan Udoh starts for Wycombe Wanderers
Kobe Errat-Thompson on the bench for Bishop Auckland
Marcus Harness scores for Derby County at Plymouth

**Posted by Matchman** 15/3/2025 3:19 PM

Lancaster still looking strong. Poor loss from Charles goes behind the goal. City the better side so far, 0-0. 18 mins

**Posted by WhiteBallProject** 15/3/2025 3:27 PM

ROUND UP 15:30

Premier League
Ipswich Town 0 Nottingham Forest 0

Championship
Plymouth Argyle 0 Derby County 2

League One
Shrewsbury Town 0 Burton Albion 0
Mansfield Town 1 Barnsley 0

League Two
Notts County 0 Chesterfield 0

National League North
Brackley Town 0 Buxton 0
Alfreton Town 0 Oxford City 0

Northern Premier League Premier Division
Ashton United 0 Stockton Town 0
Bamber Bridge 0 Matlock Town 0
Blyth Spartans 0 Warrington Rylands 1
FC United of Manchester 0 Leek Town 1
Guiseley 1 Mickleover 0
Ilkeston Town 0 Lancaster City 0
Morpeth Town 0 Macclesfield 0
Prescot Cables 0 Hebburn Town 0
Whitby Town 1 Basford United 0
Workington 1 Gainsborough Trinity 0
Worksop Town 0 Hyde United 0

Northern Premier League East
Ashington 1 Belper Town 2
Bridlington Town 0 Sherwood Colliery 0
Ossett United 0 Heaton Stannington 0
Stocksbridge Park Steels 0 Carlton Town 0

Northern Premier League Midland
Hinckley LRFC 0 Quorn 1
Loughborough Students 0 Anstey Nomads 0
Lye Town 0 Shepshed Dynamo 0
Sutton Coldfield Town 0 Long Eaton United 1

Lowland League
Broomhill 0 Berwick Rangers 0

Northern League Division Two
Newcastle University 0 FC Hartlepool 0

Ex Robins Round Up
Marcus Harness is highest ranked Ex Robin on show as he starts for Derby County
Dan Udoh starts for Wycombe Wanderers
Kobe Errat-Thompson on the bench for Bishop Auckland
Marcus Harness scores for Derby County at Plymouth
Jonathon Wafula has scored Belper’s second goal at Ashington
Luis Rose scores Harborough’s second goal 24’

**Posted by Matchman** 15/3/2025 3:27 PM

City counter brings them a corner but nothing from it. another city corner. Again nothing from it.
Free kick Ilkeston after Kirby-Moore shoved. GOAL Ilkeston Sam Parker header sneaks the ball past Dowling. 1-0. 27 mins

**Posted by Matchman** 15/3/2025 3:34 PM

Somewhat against the run of play but we'll take it. Nearly another as Kirby-Moore shot from wide is pushed behind. Ilkeston looking more dangerous now. Great play by Brandy but no one on the end of his cross.
1-0. 34 mins

**Posted by WhiteBallProject** 15/3/2025 3:41 PM

ROUND UP 15:45

Premier League
Ipswich Town 0 Nottingham Forest 2

Championship
Plymouth Argyle 1 Derby County 2

League One
Mansfield Town 1 Barnsley 0
Shrewsbury Town 0 Burton Albion 0

League Two
Notts County 0 Chesterfield 0

National League North
Alfreton Town 0 Oxford City 1
Brackley Town 0 Buxton 1

Northern Premier League Premier Division
Ashton United 0 Stockton Town 0
Bamber Bridge 0 Matlock Town 0
Blyth Spartans 0 Warrington Rylands 1
FC United of Manchester 1 Leek Town 1
Guiseley 1 Mickleover 0
Ilkeston Town 2 Lancaster City 0
Morpeth Town 0 Macclesfield 0
Prescot Cables 0 Hebburn Town 0
Whitby Town 1 Basford United 0
Workington 1 Gainsborough Trinity 0
Worksop Town 0 Hyde United 0

Northern Premier League East
Ashington 2 Belper Town 2
Bridlington Town 1 Sherwood Colliery 0
Ossett United 0 Heaton Stannington 0
Stocksbridge Park Steels 0 Carlton Town 1

Northern Premier League Midland
Hinckley LRFC 0 Quorn 1
Loughborough Students 0 Anstey Nomads 1
Lye Town 0 Shepshed Dynamo 0
Sutton Coldfield Town 0 Long Eaton United 1

Lowland League
Broomhill 0 Berwick Rangers 0

Northern League Division Two
Newcastle University 1 FC Hartlepool 0

Ex Robins Round Up
Marcus Harness is highest ranked Ex Robin on show as he starts for Derby County
Dan Udoh starts for Wycombe Wanderers
Kobe Errat-Thompson on the bench for Bishop Auckland
Marcus Harness scores for Derby County at Plymouth
Jonathon Wafula has scored Belper’s second goal at Ashington
Luis Rose scores Harborough’s second goal 24’

**Posted by Matchman** 15/3/2025 3:41 PM

Another Ilkeston corner. It's cleared Now corner for City. Yates catches it cleanly. brilliant by Kirby-Moore forcing the ball home despite being strongly challenged after Walker's header gave him the opportunity

2-0. 40 mins