IN their 100th FA Trophy tie, Alfreton Town returned home with a well deserved draw and a second stab at reaching the last 16 of the competition after holding Conference Premier Division hosts Farsley Celtic.
Manager Nicky Law was without suspended strikers Brian Cusworth and Danny Reet had striker Paul Clayton ineligible, and also had to contend with Kris Bowler being ruled out with a calf injury.
The Reds were so threadbare they could only muster four substitutes.
However, not for the first time this season, Alfreton showed their mettle with a very good all round display. They could easily have won the tie and any neutral could not have identified the Conference national side.
Law utilised Georges Santos as an emergency striker alongside Peter Knox in a new look attack and recalled Matt Wilson into central defence and goalkeeper Kyle Sutcliffe in place of Phil Senior.
Sutcliffe went on to enjoy his outing against his former employers, and it was his tip around a post two minutes into added time at the end from Simeon Bambrook’s free-kick which ensured the Reds gained their replay.
Farsley manager John Deacey handed a debut in goal to Chris Backhouse, 18.
Santos had a chance within ten seconds of the start but he could only head Kyle McFadzean’s huge downfield punt out for a goal kick.
Two minutes later a deep Anton Brown cross ended with Laurie Wilson crowded out at the back post.
McFadzean was alert enough to get in a fine tackle to halt Lee Tuck who had been sent to the byeline by Roy Stamer.
Ten minutes in Kyle Sutcliffe watched nervously as a deep cross from Stamer drifted onto the roof of the net.
Stamer then put a ball through to Scott McNiven and from his cross Steve Torpey had two stabs which lacked power and didn’t cause any real problems for the visitors.
The first clear chance of the game came on 16 minutes when Stamer’s left flank cross was Bambrook’s header stifled by the attentive Anton Brown.
Alfreton hit back to take the lead a minute later with Santos knocking the ball through to Peter Knox who calmly took the ball wide around Backhouse before rolling it in from an acute angle.
Josh Law had a clear chance to double Alfreton’s lead on 29 minutes but he blasted over from 15 yards after getting hold of Brown’s cross from the left.
James Knowles glances a header wide from Stamer’s free kick then at the other end Laurie Wilson’s 20-yarder went just wide after Santos laid off Brown’s through ball.
After referee Mr Hewitt had indicated two minutes extra, four minutes into stoppage time Bambrook’s free kick from the edge of the area went off the wall for a corner and from Stamer’s flag kick, Tuck’s angled drive was held by Sutcliffe.
Two minutes into the second half Josh Law fired a free kick over from the edge of the home penalty area.
Sixty seconds on, Anton Brown produced a superb track back and tackle to stop Tuck from getting away.
Tuck was involved again on 50 minutes when his run and cross from the right was confidently held by Sutcliffe in the visiting goal.
Alfreton almost doubled their lead a minute later when Knox neatly slipped the ball through to Chris Walton but as the Farsley defence was sliced open they escaped when Walton hammered the ball against an upright so hard from 12-yards that it set up a Celtic attack.
As the game opened out, Sutcliffe produced a great save when he tipped over a fierce drive from Tuck who had cut in from the right.
McNiven’s free kick then ran through the penalty area but Tony Butler easily cleared off the line without a challenge from any home player and as Farsley began to enjoy more openings Torpey’s turn and shot deflected away for a corner.
A minute later Santos’s cross field pass sent Walton away and he again went close for the Reds when he smashed a 20-yard angled drive from the left onto the same spot on the same upright with the rebound this time scrambled out for a corner.
Spurred on by another escape, Farsley came into the game more in the last quarter and after Tuck had cut in and fired at Sutcliffe who claimed the ball at the second attempt, the hosts drew level on 75 minutes.
Tuck sent substitute Damian Reeves to the byeline and his cross fed James Knowles who fired home through a crowded goalmouth from 12 yards.
Five minutes later Matt Wilson produced a brilliant saving tackle to shut out the danger from Reeves who had been played through by Torpey.
It wasn’t all Celtic though and Laurie Wilson sent a rising drive over from 22-yards before two corners for Alfreton led to Walton’s 25-yarder being held by Backhouse.
There was just time for one last chance each with Knox’s strong run ending with a scuffed shot wide from 20-yards before Sutcliffe ensured the draw with the crucial save in stoppage time.

 

Farsley Celtic: Chris Backhouse, Mark Hotte (Damian Reeves 69), James Knowles (Ashley Allanson 90), Simeon Bambrook, Roy Stamer, Scott McNiven, Stephen Downes (Mark Jackson, h/t), Lee Tuck, Craig Bentham, Steve Torpey, Matt Lawlor.
Subs not used: Grant, Watson.
Alfreton Town: Kyle Sutcliffe, Kyle McFadzean, Anton Brown, Tony Butler, Matt Wilson, Steve Warne, Josh Law, Chris Walton, Peter Knox, Georges Santos, Laurie Wilson.Subs not used: Mark Barnard, Matt Glass, Massiah McDonald, Phil Senior (only four named).
Referee: Mr R T Hewitt (Scarborough).
Attendance: 270.
Goals: Farsley Celtic - James Knowles (75). Alfreton Town - Peter Knox (17).
Cautions: Farsley Celtic - None. Alfreton Town - Tony Butler (dissent, 79).
Reds man of the match: Anton Brown.