Anstey Nomads secured the FA Trophy with a 3-1 win against Ilkeston Town in the final on September 26th, 2026. The match concluded at 14:00, bringing the competition to a close for the season. It was a decisive result that settled the trophy in favour of the visitors.
Ilkeston Town came into the final with mixed recent form, having lost two of their last five matches. They had suffered a 1-3 defeat to Lemington on September 5th, and a 1-3 loss to Worksop Town in July. Their record showed inconsistency, with victories over Basford United and St Ives Town on either side of those setbacks.
By contrast, Anstey Nomads arrived with momentum from their recent fixtures. They had beaten Newcastle Town 2-1 and followed that with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Silby Rangers. Their only defeat in the five matches reviewed came against Halifax Town earlier in the year. They had kept their heads through the campaign and found their rhythm at the right time.
The final scoreline of 3-1 reflected Anstey's superiority on the day. Ilkeston's defensive vulnerabilities were exposed, something that had surfaced in their previous encounters as well. The visitors ended a barren spell in cup competition with this victory, while the hosts let the game flow without finding an answer.
The result marks a significant achievement for Anstey Nomads, who had been weighing up their ambitions throughout the season. For Ilkeston Town, it is a disappointment after years of building toward a cup final appearance. The trophy now belongs to the side that showed greater composure when it mattered most.