2004/05 - Match No. 39
Nationwide North
Monday, January 31st, 2005
Droylsden 3, Alfreton Town 2
Report by Gordon Foster (Mansfield CHAD)
ALFRETON will be glad to see the back of January, after they saw the month out without a league point.
But at least they avoided another unwanted month’s record - that of not scoring a league goal.
For the Reds were twice in front against Droylsden at the Butcher’s Arms on Monday night thanks to a double strike by Mick Godber.
But they contrived to blow it away by conceding two goals in the final 12 minutes and were left to contemplate what has been a dreadful month.
One hopes that it will be the turn of the month, rather than the year, which will bring about a change of luck for the better, just as the advent of the new month and the new year saw results and form nosedive.
So drastic has been the slump that not only does automatic promotion to the Conference National now appear only a remote possibility, but even making the play-offs will demand a rapid and absolute reversal of current form.
Not that the Reds performed badly at Droylsden, for there were signs of a distinct improvement.
Indeed, Droylsden were chasing the game for all but 14 minutes of the 90, so there were signs of a return to something like pre-Christmas form.
Now, of course, they have to sustain it through 90 minutes.
With Michael Simpkins making his debut for the Reds following his loan move from Burton Albion, the game got off to an explosive start.
And by the time Godber had put Town in front, the Bloods had already scorned one first-minute chance as Ged Murphy fired over the bar.
But the game was still only inside the second minute when Mitch Ward’s measured through ball along the inside-right channel picked out Godber.
The striker intelligently drew keeper Paul Phillips and carried the ball around him to slot coolly home from a tight angle.
Droylsden tried to set about undoing the damage, and Lee Butler was forced into action with two top drawer saves in the 10th and 11th minutes.
First he tipped Danny Warner’s 20-yard goalbound shot around a post, and then saved well to deny Ian Fitzpatrick.
Thereafter, the game went through a long midfield stalemate, and it was not until the 26th minute that there was any action of note.
Then Droylsden were awarded a contentious and hotly disputed penalty for hands in a crowded area, possibly against David Holmes.
From Alfreton’s point of view justice was done when the normally deadly Jody Banim pulled his spot kick wide of Butler’s right hand post.
Even so, the home side remained so incensed by the award that skipper Grant Brown uncharacteristically picked up a booking for dissent.
Banim’s miss was almost punished four minutes later. Brown delivered a probing through ball to Holmes, and although his cross intended for Godber was well cut out by Neil Hall, the ball fell to Ward, whose volley from just inside the area flashed inches wide.
Droylsden then contrived to miss a couple of good chances themselves.
David Cameron scuffed a clear opening wide in the 35th minute, and three minutes later Banim was holding his head in frustration again when he wasted an easy opening from Fitzpatrick’s far post cross.
There was more controversy a further minute on. Another incisive through ball by Ward sent Godber on a run into the box.
The striker looked well inside when he was hauled down by Stuart Howson, but the free kick was awarded on the edge of the box, and Simpkins’ direct shot took a deflection for a fruitless corner.
Five minutes into the restart Godber latched on to Matt Fisher’s centre, and his trademark hard, low shot on the turn forced Phillips into a diving tip around his post.
Then a minute later Peter Duffield got in front of the keeper to meet Holmes’ centre and slid the ball goalwards. However, as it trickled towards the line, Godber added a touch to make sure, and immediately the offside flag went up to rule it out.
Phillips saved at point blank from Duffield after Godber and Ben Chapman had combined to open up the chance.
But Droylsden were level in the 61st minute when Cameron turned home Steve Brodie’s right wing cross.
Parity lasted only seconds as, with the Bloods still celebrating, Godber won the ball and, with the defence standing off, placed it confidently past Phillips.
In reply, Butler was forced to turn Brodie’s long range pot shot for a corner.
Paul Teather suffered an accidental head injury in the 77th minute, and a minute later Droylsden were level again.
Once more Brodie was the provider. This time his centre was met by Murphy’s glancing header out of Butler’s reach.
The home side were cursing their luck on 82 when Cameron’s 23-yard drive hit the foot of a post, and Brodie lifted the rebound too high.
But the Bloods sealed victory two minutes from time, thanks to a combination of two of their substitutes.
Chris Thompson embarked on a jinking run in from the left to set up Danny Byrne who, in too much space, gratefully slotted the winner.
MATCH DETAILS
DROYLSDEN: Phillips, Hall, Warner, Robinson, Howson (Lee 6), Morris, Murphy, Brodie, Cameron, Banim (Thompson 77), Fitzpatrick (Byrne 77). Subs not used; Dogun, Williams.
ALFRETON: Butler, Teather (Cooper 77), Blount, Chapman, Brown, Ward, Holmes (Nwadike 73), Fisher, Godber, Duffield (Sale 86), Simpkins. Subs not used; Woolley, Saxby.
REFEREE: A. McGee of Liverpool.
ATTENDANCE: 264.
SCORERS: Droylsden - Cameron 61; Murphy 78; Byrne 88. Alfreton - Godber 2, 62.
CAUTIONS: Alfreton - Chapman 16 (encroachment); Brown 26 (dissent).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Mick Godber.