2004/05 - Match No. 54
Nationwide North
Monday, April 4th, 2005
Ashton United 3, Alfreton Town 1
TWO scrappy goals in the last 20 minutes consigned inconsistent Alfreton Town to a defeat which means for all their early season exploits, the side have now ingloriously lost more league games than they have won this season.
The Reds went into the match knowing that a win would lift them to eighth place in the table and would also see them achieve a third consecutive league win for the first time since the opening three games of the season.
In the end it was yet another match they could and perhaps should have got something out of in terms of points reward.
Alfreton dominated the first half against relegation-battling United but were unable to take any of a good number of chances created before falling behind 30 seconds from the interval.
Manager David Lloyd sent out the same line-up that had won at Bradford Park Avenue two days previously and they were soon into their stride.
Mick Godber started and finished a neat build-up involving Peter Duffield and Matt Fisher before Godber chipped just wide after five minutes.
There was danger for Lee Butler on 11 minutes when a slip by Mark Blount let in Paul Garvey but the Reds custodian was quickly out to block.
As Alfreton continued to prompt well, Ian Robinson just over-hit a pass for Duffield and things got closer when both Mark Sale and Luke Foster had stabs at a Bettney corner blocked by the home defence.
By far the best chance of the first half for the visitors came on 27 minutes. A long through-ball by Heinemann picked out Godber and although he was fortunate with a kind bounce off a defender, his shot from 12-yards smashed against the inside of an upright, ran along the face of goal and out for a goalkick at the other side.
A minute later Godber was involved in an incredible sequence when he thrice challenged defenders for 50/50 balls and won them all before rejecting a fourth challenge to set up Sale whose shot was well saved by Danny Trueman in the home goal.
The hosts began to come more into the game as the half wore on and Nick Clee curled a free-kick just wide from 25-yards on 33 minutes.
After Matt Fisher had seen a 30-yarder held comfortably by Trueman, the Reds were stunned when Ashton took the lead barely 30 seconds before the interval.
From a right flank corner the ball bounced around at the far post for seemingly ages before deflecting in off an unsuspecting PHIL EASTWOOD.
There was still time for Grant Brown to send a header wide from a Bettney free-kick before half-time arrived with the Reds trailing.
Ian Robinson flashed a 30-yarder wide in the first minute of the second period before Sale headed over from a Bettney corner as Alfreton signalled their intentions to get back into the game.
Home ‘keeper Trueman preserved his side’s lead on 54 minutes with a tremendous last gasp save from a Peter Duffield effort which looked a goal all the way as it sped for the far corner.
DUFFIELD wasn’t to be denied his fourth goal in the last three games though and he lashed home the equaliser from 12 yards on 62 minutes after Blount’s long throw from the left was helped into his path by Robinson.
Three minutes later it could have been five in three games but Duffield smacked a penalty against the underside of the bar after Darren Bowman handled a great cross from Godber intended for Robinson.
The ball rebounded back to Duffield but he was ineligible to touch it again and it was cleared.
In the next attack Luke Foster’s cross was laid back by Sale at the far post but unfortunately the ball got stuck underneath Duffield’s feet and another chance had gone.
The hosts began to emerge again in the latter stages of the half and after Eastwood had seen a snap-shot held by Lee Butler, Ashton went in front again on 70 minutes when STEVE FUTCHER scored with a 35-yard direct free-kick which curled away from the Reds ‘keeper.
Futcher delivered another free-kick eight minutes later and Butler saved again from Martin Allison’s header.
As the game drifted towards an anti climax of an ending, Sale put the last Reds effort over after Godber’s flick-on from another Blount long throw.
Then, as with the first half, Ashton produced another late goal with the Reds defence allowing PAUL GARVEY the time and space he needed to head in a right flank cross which sealed Alfreton’s defeat and gave the hosts a glimmer of hope that they can stay up if they win all their last three games - allied to other results.
MATCH DETAILS
Ashton United: Danny Trueman, Darren Bowman, George Dawson, Martin Allison, Danny White, Dean Johnson, Darren Lyons (Phil Cooney 78), Steve Futcher, Paul Garvey, Phil Eastwood, Nick Clee.
ALFRETON TOWN: Butler, Blount, Heinemann, Foster, Brown, Fisher, Bettney, Robinson, Godber, Duffield, Sale.
Subs not used: Nwadike,
Subs not used: Williams, Calvert, Campbell, Artingstall.
Referee: Mr J Collin (Liverpool).
Attendance: 187.
GOALS: Ashton United - Phil Eastwood (45), Steve Futcher (70), Paul Garvey (90). Alfreton Town - Peter Duffield (62).
Man of the match: Ian Robinson