Alfreton Town Football Club

2007/2008 Season. Game no. 20. Setanta Shield, second round
Tuesday, November 13th, 2007
ALFRETON TOWN 1, Hinckley United 2

FOR the second time at home this season, Alfreton Town spurned a good chance to pick up valuable prize money from a cup competition as they exited the Setanta Shield on Tuesday night.
It could be said that bottom of the table Blue Square Conference North rivals Hinckley United had upset the form book with Alfreton having won their previous four league games without conceding a goal.
But this win for the Leicestershire side was a third in succession.
The Reds were always going to concede sooner or later but when they did it was just like the proverbial buses, two arrived in nine minutes to sink them.
Reds boss Nicky Law made one change to the side that beat Leigh in the league last weekend with Brian Cusworth given a deserved rest to the bench. Peter Knox and Danny Reet teamed up at the sharp end with Laurie Wilson given a first start in five games.
The Reds had the bonus of a sixth minute goal. Anton Brown’s punt upfield saw Dominic Roma guide a back pass to keeper Dale Belford who fluffed his kick. Danny Reet nipped in and was tripped by Belford for an obvious penalty as he tried to go round him.
DANNY REET slotted the spot kick past the Hinckley custodian with a strong, low, central shot.
The visitors then lost striker Leon Kelly to injury after just ten minutes, he being replaced by Luke Edwards and it was from the latter’s cross on 21 minutes, arrowed for Colin Marrison, which forced Anton Brown to concede a corner.
Alfreton responded and Laurie Wilson had a header held by Belford after good approach work by Kris Bowler and Josh Law.
Reet had a great chance to put Alfreton two up on 26 minutes but he screwed his shot behind instead of teeing up Law after he had got goal side following a misunderstanding between Belford and Michael Byron from Kyle McFadzean’s punt upfield.
The miss appeared to give Hinckley a wake up call and they drew level on 32 minutes.
An Edwards cross from the left caused problems in the home defence, Kyle Sutcliffe blocked a shot from Story with his legs but Story reacted quickly to set up COLIN MARRISON for a tap in.
It was the first goal Kyle Sutcliffe had conceded in 397 minutes.
Alfreton then lost Kyle McFadzean to injury four minutes later, Chris Walton replacing him.
Nine minutes later, the visitors were ahead. A solo run by former Red CALLUM LLOYD went unchecked and he fired home from the edge of the penalty area.
Just before the half time whistle, Peter Knox produced an attempted overhead kick from Walton’s cross but it lacked power. It was Knox’s last action as he gave way to Cusworth at half time.
Alfreton began the second half in positive mood and Laurie Wilson’s angled drive from 25-yards was only just over.
Hinckley replied with a Richard Lavery crossfield pass which set Marrison free but after cutting in from the right he shot weakly wide from a good position.
Cusworth headed over from a Law cross before Anton Brown went closer still when a Laurie Wilson free kick fell to him at the far post and his close range effort was blocked by keeper Belford.
Walton then shot just wide after Reet teed him up from a free kick just outside the area and in the next move Reet clattered into Belford after chasing a through ball and the Reds man was lectured as the United man lay injured.
Matt Wilson was booked for a blatant body check to stop Owen Story’s strong run down the middle before the tie hit an uninspiring period.
Cusworth went closest to getting the Reds on level terms when his 87th minute looping volley from 25 yards clipped the top of the bar.
But it could have been a heavier defeat for three minutes into added time Edwards’s solo run, shepherded by Tommy Hannigan, led to Marrison firing wide when he really should have added United’s third of the night.

ALFRETON TOWN: Sutcliffe, McFadzean (Walton 36), Brown, Hannigan, M Wilson, Warne, Law, Bowler (Glass 69), Knox (Cusworth, HT), Reet, L Wilson. Subs not used: Lindley, Cockerill.
HINCKLEY UNITED: Belford (Bowles 78), Roma, Lenton, Lavery, Byron, Platnauer, Story, Storer, Colin Marrison, Kelly (Edwards 7), Lloyd. Subs not used: Birch, Jackson, McClements.
REFEREE; David Lawrence of Barnsley.
ATTENDANCE: 171.
GOALS: Alfreton Town - Danny Reet (6). Hinckley United - Colin Marrison (32), Callum Lloyd (41).
CAUTIONS: Alfreton Town - Matt Wilson (67, foul on Owen Story). Hinckley United - Kyle Storer (73, persistent infringements).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Anton Brown.