MATCH PREVIEW: Back to league business
After the hectic league schedule in August, the action fluctuates between League, Cup and Trophy matches in September, although the aim is to maintain the winning feeling whatever the competition.
Ilkeston Town make the long journey to Cumbria on Saturday, with the NPL Premier Division encounter the first game of a busy weekend of football at the rugby stadium.
Their dismissal from the FA Cup at Leamington last week follows a challenging run in the league. They started well, winning their opening two matches, but have struggled since and have lost five of their eight matches to date.
The Robins finished last season in a comfortable mid-table position but it was Reds’ 1-0 victory against them at Borough Park last February that launched the eight-match unbeaten run which, ultimately, saved our season.
This time last year, though, we fell to a 3-2 defeat in Derbyshire and that was our third successive defeat at the New Manor Ground, having enjoyed a bit of success there in previous visits.
I think it is fair to say both clubs currently view themselves as a ‘mid-table outfit’ and both will be happy with the tag if that’s the case at the end of April.
Jack Dickinson remains a long-term absentee but Brennan Dickenson, Keelan Leslie, and Luke Ellis are close to a return to duty. Non-contract player, Josh Palmer, has registered for Carlisle City, with a view to getting some game time in the Northern League.
Reds league record against Ilkeston at Borough Park has been good over the years, although the Derbyshire club did taste League Cup and play-off success ‘over the road’. A new chapter now unfolds at the Fibrus and, as we know all too well, a wounded animal is a dangerous one.
Kick-off: 3pm
The away game at Emley, originally scheduled for next Saturday, 19 September, will now be played at the Welfare Ground on Tuesday 29 September, 2026 (7.45pm).
The Reds Youth team will launch their FA Youth Cup campaign on Monday (14 September) at the Fibrus Community Stadium when they host Spennymoor Town in a First Round Qualifying tie (7.45pm).
