2008/2009 Season. Match no. 55. Blue Square Conference North Play Off semi final, second leg
Sunday, May 2nd, 2009

ALFRETON TOWN 4, AFC Telford United 3 (AFC Telford United won 5-4 on aggregate)

Match report by Kev Miles. Match pics courtesy of Dave Purseglove here

THE biggest game in Alfreton Town's 50-year history ended in glorious failure after a rip-roaringly entertaining game in front of 2,244 at the Impact Arena on Sunday.
Glorious for the way in which every Alfreton player game their absolute all in achieving a thrilling and deserved 4-3 home win against a Telford side who have only beat the Reds once in four games this season.
Unfortunately, the one defeat was last Wednesday in the play off semi final first leg and those two goals proved just too far in the end despite a magnificent display on Sunday, as hopes of reaching the play off final against Gateshead fell oh so short at the end of what has been possibly the best season ever in terms of achievement.
Alfeton manager Nicky Law was still without the injured Simon Marples and chose to rest son Josh to the bench, recalling Jordan Hall as the Reds went in search of the early goal they so desperately needed.
Telford were without Phil Trainer following his sending off in the first leg but the visitors began confidently and forced two early corners but failed to trouble home keeper Steve Dickinson.
Five minutes in and Paul Clayton appeared to be bundled over by Lee Vaughan but both referee and his near side assistant were unmoved.
Clayton was then caught on the side of the head by a high challenge from Carl Rodgers who was fortunate to escape a card.
From the free kick by Ian Ross aimed at Tony Butler, United keeper Ryan Young showed good hands to snatch the ball away from Butler's head.
Alfreton went in front on nine minutes when a Ross corner from the right was flicked on by Matt Wilson and Tony Butler headed home from four yards off the underside of the bar at the far post.
Danny Carey-Bertram got Danny Edwards away down the left but Aden Flint stepped across to shut out any danger.
Kyle McFadzean picked up the first yellow card of the game on 12 minutes but could count himself somewhat unfortunate as he simply stood his ground and Lee Vaughan made sure he ran straight into him to force the free kick.
Matt Wilson arrowed a 30 yarder over the visiting bar as Alfreton pressed strongly and two minutes later the hosts had wiped out the deficit as Anton Brown's scuffed eight yarder went across Young and nestled inside the far post after Telford skipper Stuart Whitehead had missed his clearing header from Anthony Howell's hook into the area.
The Red part of the stadium were in dreamland. But Telford hit back to put themselves 3-2 ahead on aggregate within two minutes. From Vaughan's cross, Carl Rodgers arrived at the far post to see his powerful angled drive brilliantly saved by the diving Dickinson but the ball fell into the path of Danny Edwards who slotted home at the far post.
Whitehead also escaped a yellow despite appearing to go through the back of Clayton as Alfreton hit back strongly again.
Wilson's deep curling right flank cross forced Young to tip over for another corner right under the far angle but Ross's corner dropped short. In the next raid McFadzean's free kick into the heart of the area from the half way line saw Howell get free but he could only send his header straight through to Young who saved low down.
Lee Vaughan found his name in the book for a foul on Anton Brown before Alfreton suffered a huge blow when Tony Butler limped out of the game with a back injury on 32 minutes. Tom Curtis replaced him but dropped in at right back with Matt Wilson moving into the centre where he continued an outstanding display.
Alfreton had big shouts for a penalty waved aside by referee Mr Atkin despite an assistant flagging for a spot kick and then putting his flag back down again after Clayton burst into the area and went to ground between three visiting defenders.
Howell fizzed a strong 25-yarder a yard over the top on 34 minutes but the fierce opening pace of Alfreton's onslaught was visibly dropping away and it let the visitors get a foothold in the game as they found a second goal three minutes before half time.
An Edwards cross from the left saw Blakeman's cross-shot bound for the net but Carey-Bertram got the final touch almost on the line to make sure the teams went in locked at 2-2 and Alfreton had it all to do again in the second half.
Carl Rodgers was booked for a rash challenge on Aden Flint three minutes into the second half but one minute later Alfreton were back in front when leading scorer Paul Clayton rifled his 26th of a fantastic season after he turned sharply and shot under Young from eight yards to finish Anton Brown's pull back from the byline.
Still Telford refused to yield and after Carey-Bertram had a shot blocked for a corner, Carl Rodgers made it 3-3 when he was left criminally unmarked to send a header back across Dickinson and into the far corner to finish the flag kick from Edwards on 52 minutes.
Twice Alfreton had failed to hang onto a lead for more than a few minutes and twice it was poor defending which proved their downfall. How big was the loss of Tony Butler?
Steve Jagielka replaced the injured Liam Blakeman for the visitors before Howell and Gavin Cowan were both booked for retaliation and a spot of handbags.
Josh Law replaced Ian Ross as manager Nicky Law went for broke with a 4-2-4 line up.
However, it took a great save from Dickinson to keep the Reds afloat after Andy Brown's back heel set up Carey-Bertram for an angled six yard shot.
The visitors responded to Alfreton pushing four up by withdrawing Carey-Bertram and sending on an extra defender in Jimmy Turner.
Flint also had his name taken for a foul on Brown on 71 minutes and two minutes further on it was 4-3 to Alfreton and the dream was back on.
Substitute Turner felled Clayton as he tried to find space in the visiting penalty area and after a delay for gamesmanship and jostling on the edge of the penalty area, Anthony Howell kept remarkably calm in front of the travelling hordes to coolly steer hit shot low into Telford keeper Ryan Young's bottom right hand corner.
Telford still threatened and Brown headed wide from an Edwards free kick before a thunderous 12-yard shot from Jagielka smashed back off the angle of post and bar.
That was the last chance for the visitors though as Alfreton turned the screw, often leaving just one at the back, and put United under massive pressure to the end of an epic game.
But too many crosses went too close to Young who showed very good handling in the face of a barrage of high balls into the area and the only real chances fell to Howell whose shot in the area was blocked and to Jordan Hall whose 25-yarder dropped just over the bar, a case of so near and yet so far.
Manager Nicky Law has already stated that his plans had been advanced by 12 months in reaching the play offs so soon. For the regular and more importantly, the non regular home fans who attended and saw what a terrific side Law has put together, next season promises to be one to savour. The town certainly has a team to be very proud of.

Alfreton Town: Steve Dickinson, Matt Wilson, Kyle McFadzean, Tony Butler (Tom Curtis 32), Aden Flint, Ian Ross (Josh Law 66), Jordan Hall, Anton Brown, Paul Clayton, Liam Hearn, Anthony Howell.
Substitutes not used: Brian Cusworth, Ben Muirhead, Kyle Sutcliffe.
AFC Telford United: Ryan Young, Lee Vaughan, James Meredith, Gavin Cowan, Stuart Whitehead (c), Liam Blakeman (Steve Jagielka 55), Emeka Nwadike, Carl Rodgers, Danny Carey-Bertram (Jimmy Turner 68), Andy Brown, Danny Edwards (Jamie Vermiglio 90).
Substitutes not used: Martyn Naylor, Mark Danks.
Referee: Robert Atkin of Scunthorpe.
Attendance: 2,244 includng 1,109 from Telford in the Alma Street stand.
Goals: Alfreton Town - Tony Butler (9), Anton Brown (16), Paul Clayton 49, Anthony Howell (73). AFC Telford United - Danny Edwards (18), Danny Carey-Bertram (42), Carl Rodgers (52).
Cautions: AFC Telford United: Lee Vaughan (30, foul on Anton Brown); Carl Rodgers (48, foul on Aden Flint); Gavin Cowan (64 retaliation). Alfreton Town: Kyle McFadzean (12, obstruction on Lee Vaughan); Anthony Howell (64 retaliation); Aden Flint (71, foul on Andy Brown).
Reds man of the match: Matt Wilson.