2007/2008 Season. Pre-season friendly no. 7
Wednesday, August 1st, 2007
Eastwood Town 2, ALFRETON TOWN 2

Alfreton Town had sub Matt Glass to thank for a face-saving late equaliser in their penultimate pre-season Friendly at Coronation Park on Wednesday night, after trailling to UniBond Premier outfit Eastwood Town for much of the second half.
The game though will be remembered for two unsavoury incidents after the scoring had been completed, a mass brawl erupting in the 83rd minute after Craig Swinscoe had clashed with Brian Cusworth, the Alfreton substitute seemingly prevented from picking himself up after the initial tackle.
However, while supporters of both teams were still heaping praise on Sandiacre referee Paul Leversuch for his sensible handling of the situation - a stern lecture to the protagonists rather than a card that would surely have been produced in a more meaningful game - the last few seconds changed opinions quicker than an exit poll on election day.
Nathan Winder and Eastwood sub Anton Bonnick clashed on the ball as the clock ticked over the 90-minute mark and, despite there being no other player involved in any form of reaction so soon after the main event, both Winder and Bonnick received their marching orders, and now face suspensions at a crucial stage of the new season.
Alfreton had started full of promise, steaming down the infamous slope like a runaway train, both Kris Bowler and particularly Matt Outram teasing the Badgers' rearguard with tasty crosses from either flank, and it was no great surprise that the Reds established a 5th minute lead with a text-book goal.
Although Chris Gray had done his utmost to prevent Outram's searing run - indeed the assistant referee was flagging vigorously - the cross from the by-line was sublime and Andy White's towering presence at the far post confirmed the outcome with the firmest of headers beyond keeper Ian Deakin.
Chris Walton sprayed the ball out to the menacing Outram in the 10th minute as the Reds sought to consolidate, his superb cross headed behind by Bowler with Eastwood again unhinged at the back. Then six minutes later White was just off target with another header, this time from an Outram free kick.
The home side finally managed to push forward in the 18th minute, Swinscoe heading just over from a Ricky Hanson cross, but within seconds Hanson had to scramble back to intercept a deadly cross from Bowler at the other end.
A poor back-pass from Jay Smedley almost allowed White in after 31 minutes of play, but the keeper just managed to reach the loose ball first, then in response, Gray's lengthening run had to be halted by Anton Brown's timely tackle six minutes later.
Within a minute, though, Eastwood had achieved parity thanks to an error of judgement by triallist keeper Ale Barcharini, who had been drafted in following the withdrawal of James Lindley during the pre-match warm-up.
Hanson had floated a free kick into the box which the visiting keeper appeared to have covered, but whether or not he was impeded or the glaring sun temporarily blinded him, the ball was dropped invitingly at the feet of Swinscoe for an easy goal.
With 39 minutes elapsed, Tommy Hannigan's cross saw lone front-runner White flick his header just wide of the far post.
Just 50 seconds after the re-start the Badgers took the lead as a long ball in from the left deceived the Alfreton defenders and left Hanson with a relatively easy task in steering the ball home at the back post.
The Reds were shell-shocked, and breathed a sigh of relief on 50 minutes as Swinscoe sent a thunderbolt fizzing inches over the bar from 15 yards.
Then three minutes later Barcharini excelled in clawing the ball away for a corner as Deon Meikle attempted to go around the keeper for what must have been a certain goal.
The introduction of Mark Nangle and Matt Glass livened up Alfreton's approach, both spearheading the attack as White gave way, and immediately injecting pace and enthusiasm to the cause, Deakin having to stop Nangle's 68th mnute shot with his legs from Walton's flick-on.
Three minutes later a Nangle cross fell so invitingly for Outram at the far post, but the tricky winger scooped the ball over from close range at full stretch.
At the other end Barcharini pulled off a decent save to deny Kris Mathews in the 79th minute, but Alfreton were level two minutes later via a ‘route-one’ goal.
Barcharini's long clearance was flicked on neatly by Nangle for Glass to exquisitely chip the ball over Deakin, but sadly that was there the football ended and the unpleasantness began.
EASTWOOD: Deakin; Hanson, Gray (Bonnick 73), Cooper, Smedley, Mathews,
Mitchell, Swinscoe, D.Meikle, Howells (L.Meikle 65), Hutchinson (Francis 73).
other subs: Shaw, Mushambi.
ALFRETON: Barcharini; Hannigan (Glass 63), Henshaw, Barnard, Winder, L. Wilson,
Outram, Walton, White (Nangle 63), Brown (Ellis 76), Bowler (Cusworth 81).
REFEREE: Paul Leversuch of Sandiacre.
ATTENDANCE: 208
GOALS: Eastwood – Swinscoe 38; Hanson 46. Alfreton – White 5;Glass 81.
RED CARDS: Eastwood – Bonnick 90. Alfreton – Winder 90.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Matt Outram.