2006/2007 season Match no. 3 - Nationwide North
Saturday, August 19th, 2006
Blyth Spartans 3 , ALFRETON TOWN 0

ALFRETON Town's younger members of the team learned a harsh lesson about defensive naivete which ultimately cost them their first league defeat of the new season.
Looking to build on a promising four points from the opening two games, the Reds began well with some good football on the deck and created chances but couldn't halt promoted Blyth's charge to nine points out of nine.
Matt Glass missed the trip due to sickness and diarrhoea on the Friday and Ashley Burbeary deserves credit for lasting an hour on an empty tank due to the same symptoms since Thursday.
It was always going to be tough though and the Reds have now visited Croft Park seven times and won none of them.
Despite the defeat, assistant manager Darron Gee was still upbeat after the game.
He commented: “Two bits of naivete cost us the game. Having said that, the first two were good goals.
“Up until they scored it looked like there was only going to be one team going on to win it and that was us. Despite the grass being over long we produced some good football and dominated possession.
“In fact we kept the ball so much they changed to 4-5-1 after 20 minutes to combat us. " At half time the lads were so up for it, thinking they were going to get back into it and win the game.
“Of course we are disappointed with the goals but, given the newness and youthfulness of the side that will happen this year sometimes.
“We have got to be patient whilst everything knits together but the lads never gave up and kept going for the full 90.
“We could have had a goal or two near the end but it was just one of those days when things didn't go for us.
“No offence to Blyth, but it was the first time a lot of the players have been to a place like that. I thought they were very beatable but they have been together longer than us and their back four were such a solid unit.
“It is a steep learning curve for us this season and hopefully this will have brought a few back down to earth after recent results.
“We need to move on from this game but, the players have got their heads up and are very positive. We have to kick on from here and cut out the mistakes.”
As the game began with rain falling, Alex Gildea almost succeeded in pushing the ball through to brother Liam in the first minute but Mark Turner covered well to clear up.
A minute later the Reds won their first corner when a good through ball by Ashley Burbeary set Andy Tiday off on an angled run but Gareth Williams got back to concede the flag kick.
Alex Gildea and Tristram Whitman were spoken to by Mr Bramley after a minor skirmish and from the free kick taken by Graham, Dale shot over.
Stuart Wall slipped on the greasy surface and let Liam Gildea in but the striker also slipped when looking certain to score. He had time to recover but fired over.
Alfreton were desperately close to opening the scoring on 16 minutes when a top drawer crossfield pass by Steve Melton picked out Tristram Whitman for a mazy run and delivery to the far post where Jermaine Palmer just failed to connect at full stretch.
One minute later came a smack in the face  when Blyth took the lead as Robert Dale curled a shot past Dale Roberts from the edge of the penalty area after Wall again slipped trying to cut out a right flank cross.
Alfreton hit back and an Emeka Nwadike header caused problems at the back for the hosts before finally being cleared. A minute later a Mark Barnard cross from the left ended with Tiday firing just past the far post.
Jermaine Palmer  then produced a strong run which was ended at the expense of a corner by Ben Christensen.
Blyth responded and Dale beat Wall all ends up on the left and crossed to the far post where Liam Gildea's header was held by Dale Roberts.
There was another let-off on 23 minutes when Mark Turner mis-timed a tackle and Liam Gildea shot over from an excellent position after bursting clear.
Reds keeper Dale Roberts then kept his side in it on 36 minutes when he saved a Robert Dale penalty low to his right after Wall had fouled substitute Anthony Lowther.
As the hosts finished the half strongly both Turner and Wall had to make vital clearances for successive corners and in stoppage time at the end of the first half Ryan Clarke produced a great tackle to rob  Graham after a neat one-two with Lowther.
Stuart Wall earned the game's first booking a minute into the second half when he held Dale back on the half-way line to stop him getting a clear run through.
The Reds kept plugging away and Clarke and Burbeary combined on the right. But when the cross was cleared to Tiday on the edge his shot was blocked.
Blyth took a firm grip with a second goal on 52 minutes when Alex Gildea picked his spot from the edge of the penalty area after a clever side-step from a left flank cross.
Burbeary provided a couple of promising crosses from the right which proved ultimately fruitless and home keeper Adam Bartlett punched clear at the far post as Nwadike rose to meet a Clarke cross from Steve Melton's lay-off.
Two minutes later it was all over as a diving header by home centre-back Peter Snowdon finished a deep free kick and left the Reds with a mountain to climb.
Nwadike deserved a goal for his efforts but could only fire narrowly off target at the end of the best Alfreton move involving Whitman, Tiday, Melton and Mitchell.
As the rains finally subsided upon the final whistle, the Reds were left to think of hopefully sunnier outcomes in months to follow.
Lessons learned, it will be interesting to see how the side in general, but the youngsters in particular respond over the next few games.
MATCH STATS:
Blyth Spartans: Adam Bartlett, Ben Christensen, Gareth Williams, Andrew Leeson, Peter Snowdon, Paul Milner (Anthony Lowther 26), Christian Graham, Alex Gildea (Simon Hanlon 84), Robert Dale, Liam Gildea, Chris McCabe (Craig Price 78). Subs not used: Graham Fenton, Hedley.
Alfreton Town: Dale Roberts, Ryan Clarke, Mark Barnard, Stuart Wall (Lee Featherstone 61), Mark Turner, Stephen Melton, Emeka Nwadike, Ashley Burbeary (Marcus Ebdon 61), Jermaine Palmer (Craig Mitchell 76), Tristram Whitman, Andy Tiday. Subs not used: Gary Mills, Gary Sucharewycz.
Referee : Mr P Bramley (Leeds).
Attendance : 561.
Reds man of the match: Emeka Nwadike.
Cautions : Blyth Spartans - none; Alfreton Town - Stuart Wall (foul on Dale, 46); Ryan Clarke (56, foul on Alex Gildea).