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Sat 27th September 2025
Northern Premier League
Ilkeston Town 3 Workington 2
Ilkeston’s Dylan Youmbi scored twice but was later sent off after receiving two yellow cards. The second for simulation seemed harsh as many in the ground were expecting to see a penalty awarded but it meant that Ilkeston had to negotiate the final half hour a player short. This they successfully did despite some late Workington pressure.
Ilkeston couldn’t have had a better start with Harvey Kirby-Moore scoring inside 20 seconds. He carried the ball forward, shook off a challenge, before firing past Alex Mitchell. Ilkeston nearly had a second when Matt Thornhill’s through ball gave Youmbi a great chance but Mitchell, after initially hesitating, just got to the ball first. On 19 minutes it was 2-0 when Jamie Walker’s header hit the bar and Youmbi was there to force home the rebound. Both sides were making chances and Workington pulled a goal back with a superb effort by David Symington. On 30 minutes Ilkeston suffered a major blow when key player Sam Parker was injured and had to be replaced by debutant Seth Okyere. Workington found an equaliser on 39 minutes through Luke Ellis but Ilkeston restored their lead just two minutes later. Again it was Youmbi who found the bottom corner of the net to give Ilkeston a 3-2 half time lead.
Ilkeston started the second half strongly. Walker’s delicate chip from a tight angle landed just the wrong side of the crossbar then Thornhill’s corner kickhit the post. On 65 minutes Youmbi appeared to be felled inside the area after cutting inside but the outcome was a red card for diving. The extra man enabled Workington to push forward in search of a leveller and Ilkeston had to defend. They came close on 78 minutes as the pressure increased. Then on 87 minutes there was almost a spectacular equaliser when Symington met Josh Galloway’s cross with an overhead kick which flew just wide. In added time Workington keeper Mitchell was lucky to only see yellow for foul on Robbie Fox in a rare Ilkeston attack and the ten men held on to the thee points and back to back wins.