2007/2008 Season. Game no. 37. Derbyshire Senior Cup quarter finals
Tuesday, February 5th, 2008
ALFRETON TOWN 3, Gresley Rovers 1

Report by Gordon Foster (Mansfield CHAD)

ALFRETON Town manager Nicky Law can look forward to a return to his former club Buxton in the semi-final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup.
More than anyone else, Law has his son Josh to thank for the fact that the Reds ultimately overcame UniBond Division One South Gresley at the Impact Arena in Tuesday’s quarter-final.
The match was deadlocked at 1-1 with no hint of the two-division difference between the two sides, and the meagre, frozen crowd facing the unwanted prospect of an extra half-hour and maybe even penalties.
That was until Law junior turned the tide Reds’ way with a peach of a goal in the 79th minute before playing a key role in setting one up for Danny Reet two minutes later.
The Moatmen had taken a 15th-minute lead, somewhat against the play up to that point, but the goal lifted them and they became more than a match for their higher status hosts until Peter Knox found a 33rd-minute equaliser.
But it was the 55th-minute double substitution which saw Law and Paul Clayton enter the fray that enabled the Reds to establish a modicum of control, although even then it was hard to see where a winner was coming from until Law took a hand.
Alfreton gave a debut to new central defender Rob Pacey, and used Reet and Anton Brown as wide midfielders with Brian Cusworth and Knox starting up front.
Gresley keeper David Clarke was called into early action, parrying Kris Bowler’s 30-yard free kick at the foot of his post. Knox, following in, won the first of two successive corners.
A third corner in the ninth minute, taken by Mark Barnard and inswinging viciously on the wind from the right, was palmed away at full stretch.
Home keeper Phil Senior had to save at Joshua McKenzie’s feet in Gresley’s first foray a minute later.
But the Moatmen were grateful to Jamie Hood who charged across to clear as Chris Walton needed too long to control Reet’s through pass in a good position.
However, it was Gresley who struck the first blow on 15. Danny Blair, who trialled for Alfreton early last season, sent David Blenkinsopp away down the left. Senior could only parry his tight-angled shot at the near post, and Chris Sleath was in the right place at the right time to stick away the loose ball.
Another Alfreton corner brought a firm header from skipper Tony Butler which was blocked on the line, with Reet’s wild follow-up clearing the bar by some distance.
Gresley might have doubled their lead in the 23rd minute. Reet, helping out in defence, did well to get the ball away at the expense of a corner, from which McKenzie’s head on clipped a post and Blenkinsopp could not keep his finish on target.
Knox should have equalised in the 32nd minute when he skipped past Leigh Platnauer to go one on one with Clarke. He looked certain to score but finished tamely wide.
But the striker made amends a minute later. His shot on the turn was deflected for a corner from which Cusworth’s header came back off the bar, and Knox was on hand to poke home the rebound.
Anton Brown’s surging forward run won a corner just 13 seconds into the second half.
But the game still lacked the spark to warm the freezing fans, even after the Reds made what was ultimately to prove a crucial double substitution in the 55th minute, with Law and Clayton replacing Bowler and Knox.
Thereafter Alfreton began to get on top but still lacked a cutting edge with the Gresley defence quick to close them down, although the visitors posed little threat themselves.
Laurie Wilson was introduced for Cusworth in the 64th minute enabling Reet to push forward.
Law did well to engineer enough space to put over a cross from the right from which Reet’s glancing header went past the far post.
A rare Gresley threat was tidied up by Kyle McFadzean, who had to be in smartly to deny Stefan Marshall a chance.
But when Alfreton did finally take the lead in the 79th minute it proved well worth the wait.
Brown found his path blocked on another run down the left, but laid off to Barnard, who played the ball forward into the box. Reet was quickly closed down, but slipped it back to Law who curled a delightful 20-yard effort under the far angle.
Two minutes later Law crossed deep to Clayton who knocked the ball back in for Reet and Clarke to contest. But it was Reet who won the challenge to prod the ball over the line and seal the semi-final place.
ALFRETON: Senior, McFadzean, Barnard, Walton, Butler, Pacey, Reet, Bowler (Law 55), Cusworth (L. Wilson 64), Knox (Clayton 55), Brown. Subs not used: Warne, Sutcliffe.
GRESLEY: Clarke, Hood, Groves (Hemmings 84), Platnauer, Chamberlain, Slater, Sleath, Ridgeway, McKenzie (Marshall 64), Blenkinsopp (Edwards 74), Blair. Sub not used: Hollis.
REFEREE: Russ Fletcher of Melbourne.
ATTENDANCE: 159.
GOALS: Alfreton - Knox 33; Law 79; Reet 81. Gresley - Sleath 15.
CAUTIONS: Alfreton - Bowler 29 (foul on Hood); McFadzean 56 (foul on Ridgeway); Barnard 90+1 (foul on Hood). Gresley - McKenzie 36 (foul on Barnard); Hood 50 (late challenge on Reet).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Josh Law.