2009/2010 Season. Match no. 24. FA Trophy, third qualifying round replay
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Alfreton Town 1, Corby Town 2, after extra time

Match pics album by Dave Purseglove here

THERE will be no lucrative cup run for Alfreton Town this season after falling at the first hurdle in their FATrophy replay at home to Corby Town on Tuesday night.
Paul Clayton's ninth goal of the season in extra-time was flanked either side by an unfortunate Matt Wilson own goal and a late Leon Mettam winner as high winds dominated the tie.
A neat move from the Reds in the ninth minute ended with Jordan Hall's scuffed shot drifting wide after Ben Mills and Josh Law had set up the chance, then three minutes later Andy Todd's header set up Hall for a low drive that just missed the target.
With 17 minutes gone, Stephen Towers could not execute a clean strike on Jason Lee's lay-off, allowing home keeper Paddy Gamble to gather comfortably, and five minutes later a Chris Shaw free-kick fizzed through the six-yard box with Brett Solkhon and Lee both perilously close to making contact.
Todd again set up Hall on 23 minutes but Corby keeper Mark Osborn held his shot, then five minutes later at the other end a tame looping Lee header was easily dealt with by Gamble.
The best chance of the first-half fell to the visitors in he 40th minute when Gamble had to fist away a well-taken Chris Hope free-kick after Anthony Howell had impeded Leon Hibbert 28 yards from goal.
Mettam mis-kicked twice in the 51st minute from Lee's cross with the Reds' defence at full stretch, the move ending with Gamble clutching Lee's header, then in response six minutes later Todd's 20 yarder was deflected for a corner from Howell's pass.
A strong drive from 22 yards by Clayton in the 63rd minute was beaten out by the keeper, then two minutes after that Law fired straight at Osborn from just outside the area.
A long, mazy run by Todd in the 70th minute opened up Corby's tight rearguard but his shot was held by Osborn, then four minutes later a similar foray ended with Todd earning a corner.
A vital tackle by Aden Flint in the 76th minute prevented Towers from scoring after Jamie McGhee's blocked shot rebounded invitingly for him, then 60 seconds later at the other end Howell's 25 yarder from Law's cross was also held by Osborn.
With extra-time looming Todd saw a low drive held by the keeper and Howell went close from 22 yards, but 7 minutes into the additional period Wilson unwittingly turned the ball into his own net after an unfortunate series of errors.
The move started with Todd's wayward header during an Alfreton attack, then as Corby swiftly broke upfield Richard Pell could only help the ball on without proper contact before Flint failed to clear the ball into touch, allowing McGhee the chance to cross into the box with Mettam the target.
Todd had a shot cleared off the line by Joe Francis in the 104th minute from a Hall corner, then just 16 seconds into the second half of extra-time Clayton stretched to reach Flint's cross and steered it past Osborn from 14 yards for the equaliser.
Five minutes from time Mettam rifled the ball high into the net past Gamble from 16 yards from Stephen Diggins's cross to shatter Reds' hopes.
T,hen in a late desperate attempt to take the tie to penalties Todd's back post header from Lloyd Kerry's cross was headed behind by McGhee.
MATCH STATS
Alfreton Town: Paddy Gamble, Matt Wilson, Kris Bowler, Aden Flint, Richard Pell, Jordan Hall, Josh Law (Damian Reeves 80), Andy Todd, Paul Clayton, Ben Mills (Lloyd Kerry 87), Anthony Howell.
Substitutes not used: Dominic Roma, Kyle McFadzean.
Corby Town: Mark Osborn, Phillip Watt, Paul Mayo, Philip Gulliver, Chris Hope, Leon Hibbert, Brett Sokhon (Jamie McGhee 52), Stephen Towers, Jason Lee (Stephen Diggin 69), Leon Mettam, Chris Shaw (Joe Francis 80).
Substitutes not used: David Deeney, Tom Cross.
Referee: Martin Dexter of Leicester.
Half-time: 0-0.
Attendance: 268.
Goals: Alfreton Town - Paul Clayton 106. CorbyTown - Matt Wilson own goal 97, Leon Mettam 116.
Bookings - None.
Reds man of the match: Aden Flint.