Trouble At New Manor

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

It’s the penultimate round of the County Championship. Nottinghamshire are at Surrey playing out a huge match in Division One to determine who’s most likely to win the league, whilst I’m at Derbyshire who face Glamorgan in a third verses second battle in Division Two.

Like last week, when in Sussex ahead of my trip to Lewes, I’ve worked out on a Tuesday night, I can probably make it to a game of football, and Ilkeston is local to Derbyshire’s County Ground, just a 20-minute drive although there’s numerous routes through various fields that can be taken.

I’ve not seen Ilkeston play this season, I’ve never seen Cleethorpes play in the flesh, and whilst the Robins have stumbled in recent weeks, four straight losses going into this game, the Owls picked up from four defeats in a row themselves, to win against Leek 3-0 at the weekend, since securing promotion from the division below this summer, they have given themselves a fighters chance of doing the same again, both teams in the middling pack of the table, Ilkeston however have one eye below, whilst Cleethorpes have one eye at those above.

No sooner is stumps called for day two of Derbyshire’s match with Glamorgan am I hopping into the car at a twenty to seven, setting Sat Nav for the quickest route, which takes me shortly along the A52 and up through Spondon and Kirk Hallam, pulling up on the Awsworth Road a good 45 minutes before kick-off.

The Venue

It feels quiet tonight, £13 I’m charged as I scan my debit card at the turnstile, taking a walk around the back of the goal, the players on the synthetic surface already warming up, the clock tower stand in the far corner iconic, dark greying sky above, there’s kids around the perimeter of the pitch, they must be in the youth academy, track-suited, having finished their training sessions on the same surface which both Ilkeston and Cleethorpes first teamers are now trudging on.

It's a lovely ground when full, but tonight it’s not, I’m walking under the terrace of the home end where there’s hardly a soul, towards the tea bar where I order a brew, a steak pie and a chocolate aero. It’s hole filling at best as I take up my paper cup to the top of the seated section in the corner of the ground, where you get a view down below of the playing surface, the long low roofed standing section behind the goal to my left, the right, a smaller covered area for standing only in the distance, opposite the old clubhouse which has the odd dotted spectator about in front. It’s eerily quiet for Ilson as they’re known, I’ve seen healthy crowds of 500 plus die-hards often at the New Manor Ground, not tonight, half of that, but then results haven’t been good and there’s a bit of Champions League action also on the telly.

The Game

I’m joined by a scout from the West Midlands who I’ve seen plenty of on my travels, usually at Alfreton Town, as we discuss their clubs’ shenanigans in recently sacking Manager Billy Heath. Apparently, I’m told, they are trying to go all ‘Made in Wrexham’. They have an American owner who dictates what happens from his cross Atlantic pad on Zoom, he’s very interested in fly on the wall documentary stuff and has already ordered his media team cameras in the changing rooms during matches, last week for the game against King’s Lynn they streamed a matchday vlog on YouTube, perhaps they’ll be a Netflix documentary on them soon?

Back here, whilst chatting away, the players slowly appear on the pitch below, walking out to a low level of applause ahead of kick off, the place feeling very sparse as one fan seated up from me shouts ‘Cmon Ilson’.

Cleethorpes in all blue start well, they don’t mess around with the ball at the back, they have pace and persistence up front, dogged in midfield, Ilkeston a high line defensively, look vulnerable to the counter-attack, they don’t look to have any game plan and are playing (not for the first time under my eyes) their best forward, Jamie Walker at left back, whilst a player I’ve seen play at left back for Basford United previously, Robbie Fox, is playing up front.

It's not the prettiest as a few moans and groans are heard from behind me, one fan is laying into his goalkeeper for punching, rather than catching the ball, Alfie Roberts is making his Ilkeston Town debut tonight, ‘catch it’ is the cry, “come out for it” is the shout “bloody useless” is the verdict.

You get the feeling it can get a bit grumpy around here when things aren’t going well, and things haven’t been going well, as the ball is headed between midfielder to midfielder, another fan shouts “forty love” which is followed off with a couple of sniggers.

Ilkeston have hardly laid a glove on Cleethorpes despite a few corners, they have been dealt with by defenders kicking and heading everything up in the air and away, it’s bitty and gritty and the Referee has given a million free kicks. “We must be up to twenty already” I ask the scout sitting besides me “fifteen I’ve got” just 25 minutes in, there’s a lot more to come throughout the night.

The Score

Despite the stop start nature of the match the visitors do take control and it’s largely down to Ben Andreucci who’s been busy playing off the shoulder of Ilkeston’s centre halves all night. He breaks down a ropey looking offside trap with what ‘might be’ a well-timed run and holds the ball up for the on coming Adam Haw who blasts home hard and still rising from the edge of the area, a deserved half time lead.

The second half, you feel is more set for Cleethorpes to see off Ilkeston’s attack, which is a minimal threat in itself, the visitors sitting back deep with men behind the ball, but they also look more capable of scoring again, and do so, when Haw grabs his second, this time latching onto a loose pass to dink over the keeper neatly.

Ilkeston have the look of a side who don’t really believe, as Cleethorpes battle hard and all dig in, the second half like the first is niggly, so much so, two of the coaching staff of Cleethorpes have been booked, there’s been umpteen free kicks and by now, the few home fans inside the ground are already resigned to defeat.

As Cleethorpes ring the changes a deserving third is added late on. Josh Walker this time tapping home from close range, a group of five of six away fans sing to the Ilkeston manager Ian Deakin ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ as the under-pressure Robins boss angrily chirps back a few expletives.

The Stars

James Blunden and Callum Foster dealt with everything defensively thrown at them, and gave a platform for those in front to play, in midfield, Bailey Conway who I’ve previously seen at Gainsborough, did well, busy, hard-working, half decent on the ball, whilst Callum Ainley was neat, Curtis Bateson has something about him, the key is that Cleethorpes look to have goals in the team, Adam Haw took his two well, whilst Ben Andreucci worked the defenders tirelessly with his off ball running.

Not a night when many Ilkeston players stood out, which was a shame as both Tom Marshall and Jamie Walker were acknowledged ahead of kick off for making 200 Robins appearances. Walker, in particular, I find wasted at left back. On asking the clubs media guy I asked ‘why’ has he been playing there so much. “Just filling in” was the answer, even though the media man admitted he would rather see Walker play up front.

Sam Essien did at least provide some hope in midfield, his hard working energetic performance not going un-noticed, but a real lack of belief in the side contributed to some underwhelming football which had no real end-goal or motive, perhaps the club have a few injuries, I noticed L’Varn Brandy and Colin Daniel watching from the sidelines, two players who could instantly improve the side, if and when fit.

The Verdict

Cleethorpes move up to sixth in the division and are two points and a place below the playoff places, they are a team that are every bit capable of pushing for promotion. Craig Rouse having done a good job last season, looks to be continuing the trend, backed by some good players, I certainly feel they’ll be in and around the mix come May.

As for Ilkeston, I like what Ian Deakin has done at the club, but I wonder why fans are voting on their feet? Why they have had so many good, through and back out the door, why players aren’t being used in their best positions? Or even being used off the bench? Why the club are now 5 and 0? Perhaps there’s pressure on the former Forest and Buxton goalkeeper to keep his job? The concern, a sliding team now sits seventeenth just four points above the drop zone.

The Teams

Ilkeston Town: Alfie Roberts, Callum Minkley, Jamie Walker, Matt Thornhill, Tom Marshall, Sam Parker, Jordan Stevens (Tyler Whyle 68), Sam Essien, Robbie Fox, Harvey Kirby-Moore, Rooney Youmbi.

Cleethorpes Town: Ollie Battersby, Kwame Boateng, Connor O’Grady, Jack Vann (Aaron Braithwaite 70), James Blunden, Callum Foster, Curtis Bateson (Brad Abbott 63), Bailey Conway, Ben Andreucci (Josh Walker 70), Callum Ainley, Adam Haw (Nicky Walker 75).

7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 16th September 2025, New Manor Ground, Ilkeston (att 267).