2004/05 - Match No. 45
Nationwide North
Saturday, February 26th, 2005
Alfreton Town 0, Droylsden 1
Report by Gordon Foster (Mansfield CHAD). Pics by Phil Lucic.

ALFRETON'S poor 2005 continued with another home defeat on Saturday as in-form Droylsden became the second side inside a fortnight to complete a league double over the Reds.
The outcome was settled by a 10th-minute headed goal from Steve Halford who rose to meet a corner and planted a firm header, to which Lee Butler got a hand but could not keep out of the net.
The defeat left the Reds with an increasingly steep mountain to climb if they are to claim the play-off place, out of which, earlier in the season, only automatic promotion looked set to keep them.
And manager Dave Lloyd, who has done so well in guiding the club to their current status, came under vocal fire from a section of the crowd for the first time.
There have been murmurings since the turn of the year as the Reds' form has dipped, but for the more vocal element of the crowd, the withdrawal of Mick Godber nine minutes from time was the last straw.
And the decision was met by a chorus of boos and catcalls - not for the introduction of Mark Sale, but for the end of the afternoon for the man he replaced.
There could certainly be no complaints about Alfreton's work rate - they battled with grit and determination.
But with the lack of confidence, which the recent run of results has generated, has come a downturn in the quality of football produced.
Yes, it was on view on Saturday, but it was the Bloods who played the type of game which the Reds fans learned to enjoy and relish when their favourites sat proudly at the top of the division.
But if the form of the last two or three months has been heartbreaking for the supporters, it must have been doubly so for Lloyd and his men.
Despite their apparent determination to take something from the match, Alfreton were quickly onto the back foot against a side prepared to attack on opposition territory.
Even before the goal, there had been a couple of scares.
Jody Banim headed over after sending Carl Regan on the overlap and running in to meet the return, and Lee Butler had to be alert to dash out of his area when David Cameron almost profited from Emeka Nwadike's under-hit back pass.
Nwadike did better at the other end in the ninth minute, dispossessing Gareth Morris. The ball was worked out to Ben Chapman, but when he crossed, Danny Warner was in the way of Godber's attempted volley.
Within seconds, Luke Foster miscued an attempted headed clearance behind, and Halford buried the resulting corner.
The Reds strove to respond, and man of the match Carl Bradshaw was unlucky to see his well-struck free kick diverted to safety off a defender, while David Holmes' 25-yard dipping shot just cleared the bar.
But it was not until the 31st minute that Bloods keeper Paul Phillips had his only save of the first half to make, stretching upward to hold Godber's clever lob.
But there was another let-off for Town four minutes before the break.
While Banim's cross from the left appeared to go outside the near post off Ian Robinson's hand, Droylsden's penalty claims were refused and all they got was a corner.
Their frustration was doubled when Garry Burke thumped home a header from the flag kick and had it ruled out for obstruction.
Alfreton looked to be getting on top after the break, and when Matt Fisher won the ball in the centre circle and pushed it forward, Godber's trademark volley on the turn was just over.
Then Nwadike headed Bradshaw's high cross upwards and, as it dropped, Peter Duffield's overhead attempt was saved.
Robinson headed another pinpoint Bradshaw free kick onto the top of the net.
But it needed an excellent piece of defending by Bradshaw who got in an important header to prevent Cameron from receiving Andy Lee's lobbed centre at the far post.
And Grant Brown and Foster got in superb challenges on Ian Fitzpatrick who had threatened to run clear twice in fairly quick succession.
With Nwadike and the injured Robinson already having made way for Stephen Woolley and John Knapper, Lloyd's final gamble was to send on Sale for Godber.
But the best the big striker could manage on the eve of his birthday was a too accurate header straight at Phillips.
MATCH DETAILS
ALFRETON: Butler, Bradshaw, Chapman, Foster, Brown, Nwadike (Knapper 70), Robinson (Woolley 70), Fisher, Godber (Sale 81), Duffield, Holmes. Subs not used: Cooper, Teather.
DROYLSDEN: Phillips, Regan, Warner, Halford, Burke, Morris, Lee, Brodie, Cameron (Talbot 68), Banim (Murphy 68), Fitzpatrick (Hall 83). Subs not used: Dogun, Howson.
REFEREE: Gary Brittain of Beckingham, Doncaster.
ATTENDANCE: 288.
SCORER: Droylsden - Halford 10.
CAUTIONS: Alfreton - Bradshaw 13 (late challenge on Fitzpatrick); Chapman 56 (kicking ball away); Nwadike 67 (high challenge on Warner). Droylsden - Warner 17 (kicking ball away).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Carl Bradshaw.