Alfreton Town Football Club
Match reports
2004/05

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2004/04 - Match No. 5
Nationwide North
Tuesday, August 24th, 2004
Alfreton Town 0, Hinckley United 2
Report by Gordon Foster (Mansfield CHAD). Pics by Phil Lucic and Kev Miles.
ALFRETON Town’s tenure of top spot in Nationwide North lasted just three days before their first defeat of the season on Tuesday night dislodged them.
Not even the brilliance of the new Impact Arena floodlights, in use for the first time, could brighten a dull performance by the Reds, whose 100 per cent league record was ended by two second half strikes from visitors Hinckley.
Given the Knitters’ colours, Hinckley might better have adopted the nickname of ‘Tigers’ - they certainly had more of a tiger in their tank on the night than had the Reds.
Manager Dave Lloyd made no excuses for his side’s lack lustre show, and admitted afterwards: “Now we know how tough this season is going to be.
“It wasn’t much of a game and there wasn’t much to choose until a bit of indecision gave Hinckley their first goal.
“After that we huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow anything down.
“Mark Blount had one great shot on goal which was saved, then they had a similar shot which went in.
“Hinckley were very strong defensively, and we didn’t get the width to find a way behind them, even when we brought on two recognised wingers.
“So we ended up pumping the ball forward, which didn’t help us with it being overhit on the wet surface.”
Alfreton’s cause was not helped by skipper Mark Hume picking up an ankle injury.
Although he tried to soldier on he was eventually withdrawn and needed four stitches, making him a doubtful starter for the Bank Holiday weekend games.
Most of the match was played in a downpour which may well have had an effect on a disappointing attendance of 360 for the first game under the new lights.
Those who did turn up didn’t have much to shout about during a first half in which Hinckley were the more purposeful early on, with Town gradually getting a foothold as it ran its course.
Home keeper Lee Butler was forced into a sprawling save in the third minute when Nathan Lamey’s free kick took a nasty deflection off the defensive wall, but although the visitors were doing most of the attacking, Grant Brown and Hume in central defence were well in control.
Hinckley keeper Tommy Whittle needed two attempts to save at Mick Godber’s feet in the 25th minute as Alfreton began to assert themselves.
But by and large neither keeper was unduly extended for the remainder of a drab first half.
The second half did have a little more about it, and Alfreton made a promising start with Ian Robinson’s deep cross from the right being played back in by Emeka Nwadike, but Whittle was alert to snatch the ball off the toe of Hume on the six-yard line.
Whittle then did well to turn over Blount’s 30-yard snap shot in the 57th minute.
But three minutes later Alfreton fell behind for the first time this season.
And, like the three previous goals they have conceded this campaign, it was a peach from distance.
With wing backs Neil Cartwright and Jamie Lenton able to push further forward than they had in the first half, Cartwright’ s pull-back from the right found Lenton who, from some 25 yards, unleashed an unstoppable shot past Butler.
Cartwright threatened again when he found a way around Nwadike, but his dangerous cross to the far post lacked a finishing touch.
Immediately Chris Bettney was given his first taste of league action this season, replacing Robinson.
And, perhaps with something to prove, he began to cause a few problems to the Hinckley defence with some surging runs.
But it was an overlap by Ben Chapman down the left that might have led to an equaliser, however Matt Fisher received the cross and fired too high on the turn from 20 yards.
Chris Dolby then replaced Nwadike as Lloyd went for more guile along the left.
Hume picked up a knock shortly afterwards and although he battled bravely on after attention he had to be withdrawn 11 minutes from time.
Blount reverted to his more natural central defensive position as a result, with versatile substitute David Holmes filling the right back berth.
A minute later Alfreton penalty appeals were rejected when Peter Duffield went down in the box following a well-worked build-up involving Bettney and Mitch Ward.
But five minutes from the end Paul Barnes received a through ball as Blount miskicked, and the former Doncaster striker buried Hinckley’s second, and with it any hopes of a Reds recovery, from the edge of the box.
ALFRETON: Butler, Blount, Chapman, Hume (Holmes 79), Brown, Fisher, Robinson (Bettney 64), Ward, Godber, Duffield, Nwadike (Dolby 68). Subs not used; Knapper, Sale.
HINCKLEY: Whittle, Cartwright, Lenton, Lavery, Willis, Mintus, Storer, Dyer, Lamey (Smith 82), Barnes (Lewis 87), Burns. Subs not used: Pitman, Bradshaw.
REFEREE: Jock Waugh of Sheffield.
ATTENDANCE: 360.
SCORERS: Hinckley - Lenton 60; Barnes 85.
CAUTIONS: Hinckley - Lamey 21 (foul on Hume); Lenton 34 (Foul on Robinson).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Grant Brown.

At half-time during the game, Reds chairman Wayne Bradley (right) was presented with a £2500 sponsorship cheque on behalf of Alfreton Town Council by Mayor of Alfreton Scott Walker.