2007/2008 Season. Blue Square Conference North. Game no. 13
Saturday, October 6th, 2007
Gainsborough Trinity 2,ALFRETON TOWN 2

FOR the first seven minutes of their local derby at The Northolme, Alfreton Town looked like being swamped by former boss Paul Mitchell’s Gainsborough Trinity.
But from somewhere deep within came the resolve to hit back and come away from Trentside with what in those early minutes appeared an unlikely point.
Trinity struck twice inside those opening minutes to leave the Reds with a mountain to scale.
But scale it they did, for debutant Peter Knox marked his debut with a 24th-minute goal, then Danny Reet levelled from the spot midway through the second half.
Manager Nicky Law had promised changes after the disappointment of the early FA Cup exit, and as well as Knox’s belated debut – he was barred from playing in the FA Cup – in came Law’s own 18-year-old son Josh to begin a three-month loan deal. Also in was new central defender Tommy Agus, a central defender from Buxton.
But any hope among the travelling fans kindled by the changes must have quickly evaporated as the Reds fell behind inside the first minute. Martin Drury put over a deep, searching cross which found Richard Pell, whose downward header beat James Lindley from 10 yards.
If that was not bad enough, it was 2-0 before the clock had ticked seven minutes. Chris Hall’s corner was scrambled in by Liam Needham whose claims outweighed those of Pell – either way it was an untidy goal, but worth no less for that.
Alfreton picked themselves up and a couple of crosses by Law and Reet won corners.
From a third corner Trinity broke away through Hall, and Laurie Wilson was forced to scamper back to clear.
Lindley saved confidently from Eric Graves as Trinity regained the initiative, and Agus got in the way of Liam Needham’s 10-yard effort.
But the Reds were back in it in the 24th minute. Law’s corner was headed on to the far post by Brian Cusworth, and Knox turned smartly to execute a close range shot.
Cusworth was only inches over from the edge of the box after being teed up by Law on the half-hour, and Reet’s 22-yard free kick met a similar fate, but the Reds could not find the equaliser before half time.
Trinity began the second half the brighter, and Lindley held Jamie Smith’s angled drive confidently, but at the other end home keeper Arron Reid had to stretch to hold Anton Brown’s header under the bar from Reet’s corner.
Another powerful header by Brown, this time from Law’s flag kick, was hacked clear by Pell, but the Reds had a let-off in the 54th minute as Smith somehow pulled a glorious chance wide.
Reid turned Knox’s close range effort behind for another Alfreton corner, but Alfreton were exerting some authority as the half went on.
And they drew their reward in the 65th minute. Law was in full flight as he was tripped in the area by Drury, and Reet calmly stroked the spot kick home.
After that, though, with everything to play for for both sides, the game went quiet, with no further chance of note at either end.
GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY: Reid, Wood, Drury, Ellis, Pell, Anson, Graves (McMahon 69), Needham, Smith (Clayton 74), Mallon (Parker 81), Hall. Subs not used: Callery, Steadman.
ALFRETON TOWN: Lindley, L. Wilson, Brown, Barnard, Agus, Doxey, Law (Glass 85), Bowler, Cusworth, Knox, Reet (Cockerill 74). Subs not used: Hannigan, Walters-Lang, Sutcliffe.
REFEREE: Philip Bramley of Leeds.
ATTENDANCE: 396.
SCORERS: Gainsborough – Pell 1; Needham 7. Alfreton – Knox 24; Reet 65 pen.
CAUTIONS: Gainsborough – Wood 55 (foul on Reet); Drury 64 (professional foul on Law). Alfreton – Law 40 (foul on Hall); Bowler 45 (foul on Hall); Laurie Wilson 71 (foul on Mallon).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Josh Law.