2009/2010 Season. Match no. 26. Blue Square North.
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

AFC Telford United 2, Alfreton Town 0

ALFRETON Town slipped to a third successive defeat in the Blue Square North when they visited the New Buck's Head on Tuesday night, having added three further injuries over the weekend to their already heavily depleted squad.
 Despite manager Nicky Law bringing in former Mansfield Town midfielders Steven Istead and Curtis Shaw, the latter signed from Bromley FC hours before the game, he could still only declare two substitutes for the second game running.
 Telford were a mere shadow of the team that had beaten the Reds in that memorable play-off semi-final last season, but they still had enough fire power to brush aside Alfreton's resistance that lasted just nine minutes.
 With Dominic Roma an emergency central defensive partner for Aden Flint at the heart of the defence, they were flanked by Josh Law at right-back and Anthony Howell on the left with only Flint in his normal position, so when Istead fell back to help out and caught Sean Evans a ninth minute penalty ensued.
 Bucks marksman Andy Brown confidently despatched the spot-kick to nullify a promising start by the Reds that had seen two moves break down on the edge of the Telford area.
 Three minutes prior to the opening goal Paddy Gamble had turned aside a 20 yarder from Chris Nurse only to fumble the resulting corner before Howell slipped on the greasy surface, allowing Brown a chance that he fortunately ran out of play.
 There was a hotly disputed corner awarded to Telford in the 12th minute when Evans appeared to fire wide from former Alfreton striker Damian Reeves' cross, then four minutes later home keeper Ryan Young was tested for the first time by Law's angled drive from wide right.
 Paul Clayton sent a header wide from Howell's through-ball on 33 minutes, but six minutes later Telford had doubled their advantage when Phil Trainer unleashed a spectacular 25 yarder that gave Gamble no chance at all as it flew high into the net.
 Two minutes after the break Ian Ross wasted a free-kick after Clayton had been brought down by Trainer right on the edge of the area, then on 49 minutes skipper Andy Todd embarked on a strong run before setting up Clayton for a scuffed shot that was easily held by Young.
A minute later the Reds' spell of pressure culminated with Law's cross from the right being fired wide by Todd from eight yards, with the home side gradually picking up momentum again.
On the hour, a cross-field pass from Evans almost picked out Andre Gray, but despite Gamble reaching the ball first, the keeper spilled it initially before doing  well to recover, then seven minutes after that at the other end Roma fired over from a Ross corner.
A 72nd minute cross from Istead reached Ross wide left with his delivery being headed over by Clayton, then in response seven minutes later Reeves headed over from a Gavin Cowan cross.
Clayton's nod down to Todd in the 83rd minute was wasted when the latter dwelt a fraction too long on the ball, then on 90 minutes Brown's 35 yarder was dealt with by Gamble before Reeves only just failed from 25 yards in the third minute of added time.
In the end, the patched-up Reds had little chance of bucking a trend that has now brought five games at Telford and no goals at the venue.

AFC Telford United: Ryan Young, Lee Vaughan, Sean Newton (Gavin Cowan, h/t), Shane Killock, Stuart Whitehead, Chris Nurse (Andre Gray, 57), Jon Adams, Phil Trainer, Damian Reeves, Andy Brown, Sean Evans (Steve Thompson 74).
Substitutes not used: Carl Rodgers and Danny Carey-Bertram.
Alfreton Town: Paddy Gamble, Dominic Roma, Jordan Hall, Aden Flint, Steve Istead, Ian Ross, Anthony Howell, Andy Todd, Ben Mills, Paul Clayton, Josh Law.
Sub not used (only two named): Curtis Shaw.
Referee: Mr R J Jones of the Wirral.
Attendance: 1,292.
Goals: AFC Telford United - Andy Brown (9, penalty), Phil Trainer (39).
Bookings: - AFC Telford United - Lee Vaughan (50, foul on Andy Todd), Shane Killock (77, unsporting conduct). Alfreton Town - Josh Law (29, foul on Sean Newton), Aden Flint (54, unsporting conduct).
Reds man of the match: Paul Clayton.