.
We're still hanging in there with a chance of making the playoffs but it looks like we have to try to do the impossible and get a result at Macclesfield. A defeat would almost certainly end our playoff hopes. Ashton are 4 points ahead of us and have what looks like a tricky next game against Bamber Bridge. 

If Ashton win against Bamber Bridge and we lose then they would have 7 points more than us with two games to go. (ie we cannot catch them)
So we have to get at least a point at Macclesfield to keep us in with a mathematical chance of finishing above Ashton on goal difference. At present Ashton's goal difference is +17 and Ilkeston's is +16.
 

Last edited by Matchman (14/4/2025 8:55 AM)

Last night on Radio 5 Live's '606' Football 'Phone-In - Robbie Savage posing the question whether he should field "the kids" against Ilkeston on Saturday in order to hold the first team back for the Leek -v- Macclesfield derby - and championship celebrations - on the BH Monday.
To save you the pain - it's at about 22.33...!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0l45yl2 
 

Only nine of the 88 seats allocated to Ilkeston fans have been taken so far.


https://macclesfieldfc.ticketco.events/uk/en/m/events/645141/sections/453136?item_type_id=19436577&promocode=&tracking_link_uuid=

12 seats taken now   (Mon 4 15 pm)

Last edited by Matchman (14/4/2025 3:17 PM)

.
ilkeston and Macclesfield have two matches to play only two days apart ie Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday.

Macclesfield cannot play their strongest team in both of their matches. They have to play some squad players in both games. The same applies to Ilkeston of course.  

I would suggest that Macclesfield's prority will be making sure that they win their local derby against Leek especially as Leek beat them at Macclesfield on Boxing Day. 

I'm guessing therefore that our chance of a result is not as remote as it might have been. It will still be an incredibly difficult game but I really think that we could come away with something.

Am I being ridiculously over optimistic?


 

Last edited by Matchman (14/4/2025 7:04 PM)

.
Most supporters think that the playoffs will be out of reach after the Macclesfield match.

But they thought that after the Stockton defeat and it's not all over yet.


10 seasons ago on 25th April 2015 we made the playoffs with a James Reid goal in a 1-1 draw at Nantwich in the last match of the season. Blyth Spartans were favourites to pip us but they lost their final match. 

Can we clinch a playoff place again in our last match this season?
We are currently 4 points behind Ashton with 3 matches to play.
If we can take it to the last match, our final game is away to Bamber Bridge and Ashton’s final game is away to Workington. 


 

Last edited by Matchman (17/4/2025 8:01 AM)

silverfoxx wrote:

Question - can we afford to go up ?

 

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Maybe that's what Ashton United are thinking. And the truth is probably 75% of the teams in our league would be thinking the same thing. But we have to give it our best shot or what's the point of playing. 

 It would be a massive challenge because we would be competing with clubs with far bigger budgets but Rushall are a village team and they have managed two seasons in the National League North. 
The odds are stacked against us getting into the playoffs never mind winning the playoffs but you never know.
What will be will be.



 

.
Last night's training session ended with a rallying pep talk by Deaks to the players encouraging them to grasp the opportunity at Macclesfield on Saturday. We go there looking for the win because another playoff opportunity may not come around again soon.


 

.
Macclesfield
1 Dearnley, 2 Pemberton, 3 Lee, 4 Fensome, 5 Menayese, 6 Dawson (C), 7 Etaluku, 8 Whitehard, 9 Girolamo, 10 Elloitt, 11 Gabidon.
Bench: 12 Rooney, 14 Mellor, 15 Kengni, 16 Duffy, 18 Mendy.

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



 

Last edited by Matchman (19/4/2025 1:23 PM)

30 minutes to kickoff.  3500 gate expected

Only 7 minutes to kickoff now. There's a guard of honour waiting for the players by flag waving Macclesfield juniors. 

UPDATES 15:00
 
Northern Premier League Premier Division
Bamber Bridge 0 Ashton United 0
Basford United 0 Hyde United 0  
Blyth Spartans 0 Guiseley 0
Gainsborough Trinity 0 Hebburn Town 0
Macclesfield 0 Ilkeston Town 0
Matlock Town 0 Worksop Town 0 
Stockton Town 0 Morpeth Town 0 
Warrington Rylands 0 Lancaster City 0 
Workington 0 Prescot Cables 0
 
Table @15:00         GD  Pts  Poss Pts
1 Macclesfield        +70  100      109
2 Worksop Town    +39   74        83
4 Guiseley              +22   70        79 
4 Stockton Town    +20   71        80
5 Ashton United     +17   66        75
6 Ilkeston Town      +16   62        71   
 
Northern Premier League East
Cleethorpes Town 0 Belper Town 0
Dunston 0 Carlton Town 0 
Sherwood Colliery 0 Newton Aycliffe 0
 
Northern Premier League Midland 
AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0 Shepshed Dynamo 0
Quorn 0 RC Warwick 0
Rugby Town 0 Anstey Nomads 0 
Sporting Khalsa 0 Long Eaton United 0
 
Lowland League
Cowdenbeath 0 Berwick Rangers 0 
 
Northern League Division One
Blyth Town 0 Newcastle Blue Star 0
Crook Town 0 Newcastle Benfield 0
West Allotment Celtic 0 Boro Rangers 0
Whitley Bay 0 North Shields 0
 
Northern League Division Two
Alnwick Town 0 Sunderland RCA 0
Grangetown BC 0 Bedlington Terriers 0
Newcastle University 0 Billingham Town 0
 
Ex Robins