2005/06 season match No.10
Nationwide North
Saturday, October 1st, 2005
Droylsden 1 , Alfreton Town 0
Match report by Clive Edwards. Pics by Phil Lucic.

THIS was a tough match, in difficult , windy conditions, against a bruising opposition, nicknamed, with good cause, The Bloods.
The only goal of the game, a gem, came in the 68th minute, and gave Droylsden the three points which, on balance, they deserved.
Reds’ skipper Dave Robinson had injured his knee in midweek during a training session. Step forward the man most likely to lead by example, face any opposition head on, and sweat blood for his team. Matt Fisher, the armband fits.
But despite a sterling performance from the new incumbent, Robbo’s influence was missed. He organises his defence tightly, and lets the fullbacks know when to defend and when to move forward. Clarke and Featherstone both played solid defensive games in this match, but their trips across the halfway line were limited. And despite a competent return by Mark Blount, there were a few occasions when the Droylsden attack were given a little too much space for comfort in the Reds’ penalty box.
In the 14th minute, for example, Droylsden midfielder Gareth Morris sent Talbot through with an incisive pass onto the penalty spot. Greg Smith, alert as a Bloodhound and quick as a Whippet, raced off his line to save the shot, feet first. It was a close call, and alarm bells rang.
Droylsden lost their skipper, Steve Halford, early in the half. First, a tackle from Godber, left him needing treatment. Then a couple of minutes later, and not fully recovered, Halford chased and tried to tackle Jon Stevenson. He collapsed to the ground, and signalled to the bench that his day was over.
Much of the play in this game was fast paced, half to half if not end to end stuff. In fact, the ends were rarely troubled. The ball was chipped, swiped, hoofed, passed , through and over midfields, but most attacks broke down before a decent chance had been created.
In the 34th minute, a speculative 30-yard effort from Chris White floated over the home bar, Stevenson shot wide from 25 yards a couple of minutes later, but nothing to get the pulses racing on this first, cooling October afternoon of the season. Perhaps, as Godber frequently indicated to those trying to feed him, the lower ball, on the deck or just above, would have been more fruitful. In a swirling wind, the high ball gives an advantage to the defence, particularly when they are built like giraffes and have the strength of gorillas. For most of the match, Godber was marked by a centre back named Sturdy. Enough said.
Were Droylsden physical ?
Yes, said Gary Mills after the match. “But you have to accept that and get on with it.” Was the ref a bit lenient with them ? “Perhaps,” mused the manager.”But I don’t want to criticise. We have come some distance since the beginning of the season. We’re all disappointed to have worked so hard this afternoon and come away with nothing. But a defensive lapse gave them a goal and that was that. We battled well and we restricted them. That’s encouraging. There were not many chances either way. 0-0 would have been a fair result. “
A fair summary, but sometimes the points deserve to be given to a side for one piece of genius. In the 68th minute, a long ball from a free-kick was dealt with badly by the Reds’ defence. It fell to Gareth Morris, 25 yards out. Between him and the goal were five defenders, and a goalkeeper, just off his line. He saw the chance, chipped, and the ball floated, in the wind, gently over the crowd, and into the net. He turned, knowing that it was a special piece of skill, and that it might well prove to be the difference between two teams on a windswept afternoon. Morris played a good game throughout, though his talents are marred by his propensity for arguing and bickering.
This was one of the least pleasant features of this game. At times, especially for a period towards the end of the first half, keeper Greg Smith was bludgeoned by burly attackers from set pieces. The ball would be launched goalwards, the strikers would run at the keeper like battering rams. In particular, Droylsden’s centre forward , David Cameron, lumbering, hunched, grizzled, shaven headed, schooled at the Duncan Ferguson Academy of soccer subtlety, pummelled the Reds’ defence. The referee watched smilingly, deeming these tactics acceptable in a physical contact sport, one assumes.
To his great credit, Smith refused to be intimidated. He played terrifically. So did Mark Turner in defence. But above them all was Gary Mills. On a couple of occasions, to win the ball from a throw in on the half way line, he launched himself horizontally to get a header in. The situation was innocuous, but Mills knows that , in soccer, possession is everything. If you’ve got the ball, don’t give it away. If you haven’t got it, go hell for leather.
Alfreton created very few clear cut chances . In the opening minutes of the second half, Jon Stevenson raced past three players and shot just wide from 25 yards, and Godber, despite nearly having his shirt removed in the tussle, had a shot well blocked by the keeper. Subsequently, Reds attacks were dealt with efficiently. Apart from the single goal, Droylsden’s Ian Stephenson came closest to scoring when, in the 54th minute, he lobbed a shot over Smith only to see it bounce on the top of the crossbar.
In the latter stages of the game, Chris Bettney replaced Chris White on the left wing, and Steven Woolley replaced Jason Blunt on the right. Both replacements might have considered swapping flanks. But by this time, Droylsden were increasing the pressure on Alfreton, for whom Featherstone survived a penalty appeal for handball with just two minutes remaining.

Droylsden: Paul Phillips), Jimmy Williams,Danny Warmer,Steve Halford (capt) (Mick O’Brien 10), Simon Sturdy, Steve Brodie, Ian Fitzpatrick, Garteh Morris, David Cameron (Gavin Salmon 90+1),Kevin Rapley (Ged Murphy 74), Robbie Talbot.
Subs not used: Neil Hall, Craig Robinson
Alfreton Town: Greg Smith, Ryan Clarke, Lee Featherstone, Mark Blount,Mark Turner, Gary Mills, Jason Blunt (Steven Woolley 75), Matthew Fisher (capt) Mick Godber, Jon Stevenson, Chris White (Chris Bettney 62)
Subs not used: Liam Powell, Emeka Nwadike, Peter Duffield
Scorer: Gareth Morris (Droylsden) 68 mins.
Bookings: Blunt (Alfreton) (21) foul; O’Brien (Droylsden) (27) foul; Fitzpatrick (Droylsden (72) dissent.
Referee: Mr K W Haycock (Bradford)
Attendance: 319
Reds Man of the match: Gary Mills.