Boys verses Pitmen

Ilkeston Town 0-3 Hednesford Town (Northern Premier League)

It's a local one today as I'm out with friends tonight, so I've told the wife I'll be home by 6pm. Ilkeston is just 12 miles from my house so a nice cushty little number on a Saturday afternoon.

The Robins have been slipping of late. The last time I seen them they were awful at home to Cleethorpes in 3-0 defeat, before going on a decent run of seven unbeaten, they have since lost their last six not including a Derbyshire Senior Cup victory midweek which ended 7-1 against Borrowash Victoria (who did have former Derby and Forest striker Marcus Tudgay score for them), perhaps that result might have eased some pressure surely mounting on Manager Ian Deakin?

Hednesford on the other hand are flying high under Gavin Hurren. Top of the division, they are looking to go eight unbeaten after last losing to Stockton in October. I've not seen the Pitmen play for a couple of years so don't really know what to expect this afternoon? A side with good experience, a club always seemingly with a healthy budget, well backed and followed, one thing is guaranteed, it's not going to be an easy one for Ilkeston fans to sit through today.

I've taken the dog for a walk into West Bridgford, grabbed a coffee at Cafe Nero and a Croissant from M&S before getting back home and holiday shopping on my mobile phone (Croatia looks nice for next year), the wife's got the hoover out so I'm making myself scarce, nice and early out the doors, I leave at 12:30pm with the intention to park outside the New Manor Ground and sit and chill with my own thoughts for an hour or so.

The Venue

It's little more than twenty minutes to drive up the Nottingham ring road and across the Derbyshire border where I spit out the window into the fields upon enter, I turn right on the Awsworth Road where you can spot the beautiful iron made Bennerley Viaduct, pulling up on the pavement opposite the Microlise New Manor Ground. Whilst sitting in my car I spot a sign for Ilkeston Town Juniors ahead. Apparently there's a football pitch that runs parallel with the train tracks overlooked by the stunning bridge above, I have never previously noticed it before.

I have a listen to the radio and write down some notes in my little black book before I see the Hednesford team supporters coach come down the street. I'm thinking I need to get out my car before the fans jump off that bus, so I hop out and make my way to the turnstile so I'm not stuck in too much of a queue.

It's about four deep by the time I get there, concessions one side, full paying adults the other, £13 contactless and I'm in at the corner, goalkeepers out warming up ahead of the rest of the players joining them, I'm walking across the dugouts towards the Clock Tower stand which has a window open serving teas and pies, I order a brew and a Twix which costs £3.

Up the stairs to the corner seated pavilion I notice a new scoreboard flashing in red, apparently it's only been up a couple of months, a new addition to a ground that has hardly changed in many years, but for the playing surface from grass to synthetic which occurred in 2021.

It's cold up in the seated area, high up, elevated and looking down towards the pitch, covered terracing each end, a large brick built clubhouse opposite, I say 'hi' to the two Ilkeston media lads, one of them has a pint in hand, the other typing out the team on his laptop for twitter. I'm joined by a scout from Stats Perform who I know well, he's brought with him a blanket and seat cushion, which he places on the chair besides me before snuggling up to get settled in.

The Game

He tells me of Hednesford's last performance as he watched the draw against fellow title chasers Warrington Rylands, solid, no frills, is what I'm told to expect, they do have Montel Gibson who's a former Ilkeston striker in attack, no doubt he'll be hoping to score and silence some unforgiving fans who once cheered his name when wearing Robins red.

Hednesford in all pale blue are the early enforcers, they have a bit of pressure mounting in the Ilkeston area who put bodies on the line, there's shots blocked and corners stacking up, Gibson heads a chance wide at the back post which raises some cheers of irony from the Ilkeston faithful behind the goal.

Ilkeston aren't bad, perhaps that's down to Hednesford not being great, the home side have a corner on 24 as they mount some sporadic pressure themselves, the ball cleared out to the half way line should be dealt with by Okyere, the Sheffield United loanee playing centre half tries nonchalantly to play back to the keeper, he doesn't get enough on it, Niall Watson nips in, he's a player returning back from a loan spell at Warrington Town, he's a player I liked when he played for Southport, he's 35 yards out running on to a loose back pass, Alfie Roberts is out of the Ilkeston goal, Watson lofts the ball over the back-peddling goalkeeper for a silky smooth opener, which is mostly all Ilkeston's own doing.

That goal is a bit of a confidence drainer, suddenly Max Sheaf finds space in the Ilkeston area and he drives low to make it two, it's a half time lead where Hednesford haven't really needed to go up in gears, Ilkeston have huffed with little blow, the home fans are from happy in what they have seen. The old cries behind me of 'get stuck in' and 'kick him' start to come out.

The Score

At half time I have chat with the Head Scout at Alfreton Town who's here casting eye on those below, I tell him there's not much to look at today, Ilkeston haven't been great, Hednesford hardly much better, but more organised, defensively structured, experienced, they grind you down and take their chances, which is the only difference in the scores so far.

Ilkeston come out and try to play with some positive aurora, but Hednesford are better and their resilience offers little opportunity, it's all getting too difficult for the home side who hardly test Tony Breeden in goal, a double sub see's striker Robbie Fox give a bit more energy from the bench, but Ilkeston's attack looks lacklustre against a team who are just solid, no frills, they don't look like conceding today.

There is another goal, on 62 Gibson is felled inside the box, Sam Parker has already received a yellow card and gets a second booking for diving in to block the attacker, Referee's verdict is to go all in himself, Hednesford's leading scorer Akheel Rose converting his eighth league strike of the season and a routine win for the league leaders who are looking good for topping the charts this Christmas.

Things could, and should have got worse late on, a break by Hednesford had a 3v1 attack verses defence, Niall Watson however with the keeper to beat, ended up kicking the ball to Cotmanhay.

The Stars

Despite his guilt-edged late chance which looked more like a rugby conversion than attempt at goal, Niall Watson on the left side of attack did very well, a decent size wide man he has pace and power and with his first half finish, you feel a decent bit of quality in the final third.

On the other flank, Akheem Rose was a constant thorn, a speedy winger who's direct. Hednesford however were more impressively very solid defensively which allowed their attacking players a good starting base to break from, Chris Hussey in particular, doing well at centre half.

For Ilkeston, not a good day against a team who were always expected to give them the run-around. Despite his error young Seth Okyere looked to have some decent qualities, Sam Essien in midfield, as always, putting a good shift in, whilst Dylan Youmbi had moments, if not near regularly enough.

The Verdict

I said at half time, that Ilkeston Manager Ian Deakin must surely be under some pressure now? But his season won't be defined by performances against Hednesford, it will instead be imperative, that the club perform against those that are in and around them.

A place and a point above the drop zone, they'll be hoping to not get sucked in even more than they already are, whilst Hednesford don't have those troubles to worry about, they'll be hoping a win at Warrington Town on Saturday will keep them at the summit some longer to enjoy, with an eye on a return to the National League North where they last sat, for three years between 2013-2016.

The Teams

Ilkeston Town: Alfie Roberts, Sam Bird, Colin Daniel, Matt Thornhill (Jordan Stevens 58), Seth Okyere, Sam Parker, Connor Dixon (Tyler Whyle 76), Sam Essien (Callum Minkley 76), Dylan Youmbi, Harvey Kirby-Moore (Robbie Fox 58), Jamie Walker (Jackson Blaize 70).

Hednesford Town: Tony Breeden, Jamie Morgan, Joel Taylor (Ryan Wynter 65), Dan Trickett-Smith, Ollie Harrison, Chris Hussey, Niall Watson, Joe Doyle-Charles (Simeon Maye 81), Montel Gibson (Jonathan Edwards 65), Max Sheaf, Ahkeem Rose (Dan Turner 73).

3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 13th December 2025, New Manor Ground, Ilkeston (att 442).