Alfreton Town Football Club

2006/2007 Season. Match no.35 - Conference North
Tuesday, February 20th, 2007
Harrogate Town 0, ALFRETON TOWN 1

ALFRETON Town are now just two points off the Conference North Play-off spots after a 1-0 win at second-placed Harrogate Town on Tuesday evening.
The victory, more comfortable than the final scoreline suggests, pushed the Reds into eighth place in the table and took them onto 45 points, two behind Farsley Celtic in fifth place.
The only goal came on 17 minutes and was provided by in-form Mark Rawle who scored for the fifth game in a row.
This was a real test of the Reds’ Play-off credentials, and they came through with flying colours.
Rawle’s goal was that of a typically in-form predator.
Anton Brown, who had an excellent evening, had seen his shot blocked after Mark Barnard had set him up from player-manager Marcus Ebdon’s through ball, but Rawle reacted instantly to prod home the rebound.
Unsurprisingly Ebdon went with the same starting line-up as that which had beaten Vauxhall on Saturday, and they continued in the same attacking frame of mind that they had left off at the weekend.
And they were close to being rewarded in only the fifth minute when Leigh Wood hurriedly headed Brown’s cross inches over his own bar after good work by Ebdon and Tristram Whitman.
Brown was involved again a minute later with a lay-off reminiscent of the legendary Mick Godber, for Rawle to see his shot on the turn held by keeper James Lindley.
Harrogate had just one half-chance, when Dale Roberts comfortably held former Irish international Roy Hunter’s 20-yard effort, before Rawle fired the Reds into the lead, to the delight of the travelling fans.
After the goal the ambitious home side strove to undo the damage, but Roberts easily held an optimistic overhead kick from Kirk Jackson - a Reds target earlier in the season - while Dave Merris drove an angled effort into the side netting.
Brown had the chance to double the lead in the 33rd minute, scuffing his shot straight at Lindley after Whitman had shown admirable persistence in twice winning the ball.
Colin Hunter should have equalised for the home side a minute later but fired hopelessly wide when well placed.
Ryan Clarke picked up a booking for fouling Colin Hunter on the edge of the area, but the defensive wall did its job effectively as Danny Holland’s free kick was deflected for a corner.
But the Reds could have turned round two up when, in stoppage time, Brown and Rawle interchanged. Rawle played a short pass to Ebdon who set up Burbeary to curl his finish around the far post.
Five minutes into the restart Burbeary played a deep free kick towards Whitman at the back post, but Byron Webster made a crucial last gasp interception to deny the striker his chance.
Webster popped up at the other end five minutes later with a strong run across the 18-yard line, but screwed his shot wide.
Rawle was furious with Sunderland official Geoff Eltringham just before the hour. Whitman pulled a ball back from the by-line and it was headed behind by Chris Timons - one of several ex-Hucknall Town players in the home side.
But the official ruled that it wa Rawle who had got in the header and awarded the goal kick instead.
The Reds were protesting again three minutes later when Emeka Nwadike appeared to have been fouled by Merris on the edge of the area. This time they did get a corner instead of the free kick but it was wasted.
As Alfreton continued to look the more likely to add a goal, Nwadike won a great blocking tackle to set up Rawle, only for Jamie Price to make a crucial challenge and concede another corner.
However, another home sortie saw Holland fire straight at Roberts after his run along the edge of the area.
And then on 78 minutes Roberts had to react quickly to save under the bar when, as Jackson shaped to shoot, Clarke got in a foot causing the ball to loop awkwardly upwards.
The game might have been finally put beyond the home side nine minutes from time. Ebdon set up Brown for a 25-yard shot at goal, and Lindley managed to stick out a leg on the goal line to deflect the effort for a corner.
For the remaining 10 minutes Alfreton soaked up everything that Harrogate could throw at them, to deny them a sniff at goal and preserve yet another clean sheet - their third in three successive victories.