2005/06 season match No.29
Derbyshire Senior Cup, Quarter Final
Tuesday, January 17th, 2006
Belper Town 1, Alfreton Town 2
Match report by Kev Miles. Pics by Phil Lucic.

ALFRETON Town exacted revenge for last season’s Senior Cup semi-final defeat on Tuesday evening as they comfortably saw off a full strength Belper Town to reach the last four of this year’s competition.
Last season the Reds bowed out on a 2-0 home defeat to the Nailers, but this time around there were no slip-ups in a display in which they held the upper hand for the majority of the game, particularly in the creation of chances.
Mark Hume was given more time to recuperate from his first 90 minutes of first team football in over 14 months theprevious Saturday, and he joined the five injured and three ineligible players looking on at a Reds display which just lacked further goals for their dominance.
Mick Godber was recalled to lead the line and he did so with far more purpose than of late.
He was rewarded with a goal in each half, both created from pull-backs from the by-line as Alfreton got round the back of the Belper defence on numerous occasions.
There were four ex-Reds in the Nailers ranks, Mark Highfield, Andy Rushbury, Chris Dolby and Paul Tomlinson.
It was Dolby who looked as if he had the most to prove with a busy display down the home left.
However, the service in to the front men was simply swallowed up by a resolute Reds defence in the first half in which Greg Smith was a virtual spectator, apart from a tip over from a Dolby free-kick.
That was just before Alfreton returned to the attack and took the lead on 18 minutes. Jon Stevenson’s persistence down the left saw him rob Asa Ingall and get to the by-line before pulling the ball back for the waiting Godber to ram home from eight yards.
The move was repeated minutes later but Chris James got in just ahead of Godber to clear.
A fantastic piece of skill from Bettney which took him past two defenders at close quarters was spoiled by the end delivery.
Alfreton continued to attack almost at will to half-time. Several other openings came and went and the hosts were probably relieved to only be one goal behind at the break.
A partial floodlight failure at half-time held up play for a further 12 minutes and it was Belper who emerged with more gusto when the second period finally got under way.
Indeed, the Reds defence was given a thorough examination for a 10-minute spell, but they emerged unscathed as the Nailers were denied clear chances to get back into the tie.
During that spell Dolby cut across the 18-yard box but fired a strong shot straight at Smith.
However, the Nailers were thankful for Jon Hobson’s clearance off the line with keeper Carney stranded from Bettney’s rifled effort.
Godber was a yard away from doubling the lead as the Reds regained their attacking dominance.
After two corners in as many minutes Carney was fortunate when he came for and missed the second flag-kick.
As the half progressed Alfreton found themselves penalised for virtually every challenge as a succession of free-kicks were given to Belper by Bargate referee Steve Cook.
However, the hosts had to play out the remaining 16 minutes with 10 men when keeper Andy Carney was sent off for what was deemed a handling outside his area as he prevented Stevenson’s attempt to chip past him in a one on one situation.
Ingall took over in goal and after surviving Bettney’s free-kick which fizzed just over, the stand-in keeper had to race out to kick clear as Bettney hared through the middle.
Ingall produced a fine stop at the expense of a corner to keep outGodber’s header, and Godber was a yard wide with a downward header at the far post in the next raid as the Reds threatened to cut loose.
Bettney was in irresistible form down the right and he again got round the full-back to pull back for Godber to steer home his second of the tie from close range, and it was finally 2-0 on 86 minutes.
Rushbury got Belper on the scoresheet deep into stoppage time when he charged down Smith’s attempted clearance after Ryan Clarke had sold him short with an under-hit back pass. Smith’s kick rebounded off the former Reds man and rolled into the net from the edge of the penalty area.
No doubt manager Gary Mills will be disappointed at not keeping a clean sheet, but the abundance of chances created at the other end should almost certainly give him plenty to build on as the Reds wrapped up back to back wins for the first time this season.
BELPER TOWN: Carney, Ingall, Carter, Highfield, James, Hobson, Cancellara (Gummer 70), Hudson, Mushambi (Tomlinson 85), Rushbury, Dolby. Sub not used: Chambers.
ALFRETON TOWN: Smith, Powell, Featherstone, Robinson, Clarke, Fisher, Bettney, Blunt, Godber, Stevenson, Turner (Flanagan 89). Subs not used: Duffield, Harcourt.
REFEREE: Steve Cook of Bargate.
ATTENDANCE: 280.
SCORERS: Belper - Rushbury 90. Alfreton - Godber 18, 86.
CAUTION: Belper - Mushambi 61 (foul).
DISMISSAL: Belper - Carney 74 (deliberate hand ball).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Chris Bettney.