2006/2007 season Match no.19 - Nationwide North
Saturday, November 18th, 2006
ALFRETON TOWN 1, Barrow 0

Report by Kev Miles. Pics by Phil Lucic.

PRETTY it wasn’t, but after Alfreton Town claimed back to back league wins for the first time since January 21st, manager Gary Mills hailed his side’s display as “Without a doubt, the best of the season”.
Coming five days after a superb attacking display against Gainsborough, the Reds had to stand toe to toe and tough this bottom of the table ‘six pointer’ game out against an uncompromising Barrow side.
And the Reds also had to put history in its place as they had only won once on this date down the years in nine previous games - eight being defeats.
The Reds had to contend with the blow of having on loan striker Steve Scoffham stretchered off after just 22 minutes of his second appearance since joining from Burton Albion.
Manager Mills was forced to make one change to the successful midweek side with the unavailable David Reeves being replaced by Tommy Hannigan and Callum Flanagan brought onto the bench.
The visitors were without former Alfreton triallist James Cotterill, the centre back being suspended by the FA for violent conduct in an incident televised nationwide during the previous week’s FA Cup tie against Bristol Rovers.
Barrow began strongly and striker Tom Pope’s first minute header was deflected for one of five first half corners.
Four minutes later Paul Brown’s shot was deflected off one of his own players and Emeka Nwadike had to head clear for another flag kick.
In the first Reds raid of any note on ten minutes Rawle got in front of Dave Bayliss and help the ball up well before laying off to Scoffham who got in a strong shot but which was saved.
Back at the other end Pope’s eight yard header from another corner ended with Ryan Clarke clearing off the line.
Barrow lost Andy Bond - injured in a routine clash - and he was replaced by Chris Butler.
Alfreton then had the blow of having Scoffham stretchered off after a ferocious 19th minute challenge by Bayliss who appeared to follow through after winning the ball. The player escaped caution and both Alfreton and Burton Albion were left to count the cost of another knee injury for the unlucky former Notts County striker who was replaced by Matt Glass.
Anton Brown tried to rouse his side with a strong 40-yard run and the same player then put a header from a Burbeary free kick straight at visiting keeper Jamie Speare.
Rawle produced a good strong run through the middle but he couldn’t quite get the ball through to Glass and the visiting defence mopped up again.
Barrow shouts for a penalty on 41 minutes fell on deaf ears when Alex Taylor went to ground all too easily in the six yard box under challenge by Ryan Clarke.
In what had been a dour first half contest Rawle produced a rare moment of quality with an excellent turn past two defenders but after he set Glass free down the right his driven cross was cleared for a corner by the outstretched leg of Bayliss.
From the flag kick Nathan Winder got in two headers which were cleared before Speare appeared to fell Nwadike in the area but once again the referee was unmoved.
Nwadike then took out his frustrations on Pope and was booked for a mistimed tackle.
Half time came with Alfreton happy that Barrow had failed to take what few chances had come their way.
The Reds showed far more purpose in the second half and dominated the majority of possession.
True it was still a scrap, but it was Barrow’s turn to also defend against the elements with a strong crossfield wind also hampering the quality of play.
Alfreton did get the ball down better in the second half. They looked sharper and hungrier and from the restart they attacked well.
A left flank cross from Glass was headed behind by Jones for a corner and another one followed on 49 minutes with Rawle’s show being blocked away.
Nathan Winder was only a yard wide with a massive 50-yard blast before Bayliss went into the book for a foul on Glass.
Burbeary fired a 25-yard free kick straight at Speare then Anton Brown surged forward to see a 25-yard shot fizz low past the far post.
Barrow raids were rare but Dale Roberts in the home goal did well to take a good claim from the head of Tom Pope as the pair challenged for Eckersley’s right flank cross.
As the Reds returned to the attack Rawle’s persistence in the corner produced a cross from which Ebdon acrobatically shot wide.
The visitors made a second change with Paul Brown replaced by Nick Rogan and the hosts then had a sight of goal but Ridley blazed a free kick yards over after Winder had fouled Pope.
With Ash Burbeary prominent in most home moves, Clarke smacked the bar with a header from Burbeary’s corner from the left on 66 minutes.
The all important goal came on 70 minutes from the sixth corner kick won during the half. Burbeary’s precise flag kick was met by Ryan Clarke who climbed highest to send a thumping header past Speare from six yards. The corner was somewhat disputed with Stringfellow adjudged to have headed behind, there was no doubt whatsoever about the goal.
Flitcroft came on for Ridley for the visitors and Barrow had a brief flurry towards the end in which the third substitute curled a right wing cross onto the top of the net. That was as close as they got though as a first clean sheet in nine games for the Reds was comfortably achieved with the visitors snubbed out throughout the second period as Winder again impressed at the heart of the home rearguard
Anton Brown was booked in stoppage time for time wasting but that was a minor blip on a day Alfreton became the only team still unbeaten at home in Conference North this season. Not bad for a struggling team!
Mills added: "We have battled all season and shown commitment all season and I said previously that the points haven't matched the performances.
"For me this was our best performance because were asked a question against a team who were very physical, against a team who are difficult to play against and we matched it.
"For the first 45 we really had to dig in there. We had the wind against, a bobbly pitch, the sun in our eyes, a lot of things against us where we had to battle to go in with a clean sheet and come out and give as good as we got in the second half.
"It topped off what was another good performance - in a different way - on Tuesday.
"It is six points. We all know we needed them and we now all know we deserved them. I am delighted for everybody.
"We have had to change over the last six weeks where players have had to go out the door. I have had to try and bring players in. It is not ideal, the quicker the players settle down that come in the better, but they have come in and done excellent for us.
"We have had to change systems due to injury and due to having a small squad. We need to get stronger as a squad and compete and get where we want to get.
"If we battle like that and hope and pray that players stay fit. To go into the Christmas period with a small squad is not ideal but let's enjoy the six points. It has been a long time coming for me and a long time coming for this club. But I have seen something today which for me says that is our best performance of the season. We have had to battle and all credit to everybody."

MATCH STATS:
Alfreton Town: Dale Roberts, Ryan Clarke, Anton Brown, Tommy Hannigan, Nathan Winder, Emeka Nwadike, Tristram Whitman, Marcus Ebdon, Steve Scoffham (Matt Glass 22), Mark Rawle, Ashley Burbeary. Subs not used: Andy Tiday, Michael Harcourt, Gary Mills, Callum Flanagan.
Barrow: Jamie Speare, Andy Bond (Chris Butler 15), Mike Eckersley, Paul Jones, Dave Bayliss, Stuart Howson, Paul Bro;wn, Steve Ridley, Tom Pope, Alex Taylor, Mike Stringfellow. Sub s not used: Jon Smith, Ben Morsby.
Referee: C Grundy (Mosborough).
Attendance: 310.
Cautions: Alfreton Town - emeka Nwadike (45+1, foul on Tom Pope); Anton Brown (90+1, time wasting). Barrow - Dave Bayliss (53, foul on Matt Glass).
Goal: Alfreton Town - Ryan Clarke (70 mins).
Reds man of the match: Ashley Burbeary.