2007/2008 Season. Blue Square Conference North. Game no. 15
Saturday, October 13th, 2007
ALFRETON TOWN 0, Hyde United 3

Pics by Phil Lucic.

VISITORS Hyde United gave Alfreton a lesson in finishing at the Impact Arena on Saturday.
The Reds dominated the first half but drew no tangible reward for their efforts, as a combination of wayward finishing and some top drawer goalkeeping by Craig Dootson combined to frustrate them.
But when the Tigers took control after the interval they emphasised their superiority with three goals and went home with the points.
It should not have happened – Alfreton should have been out of sight by half time, but unless they can learn to kill opponents off when they are on top they will struggle to climb the Blue Square North table.
The Reds made the early running, winning a corner after only 35 seconds.
But as they upped their tempo after the opening 10 minutes Danny Reet lashed onto a half-cleared Anton Brown cross and lashed inches wide.
Dootson showed a foretaste of his personal heroism shortly afterwards, flinging himself to save a rasping drive from Brian Cusworth at the second attempt after the striker’s well-worked interchange with Josh Law.
Cusworth was proving hard to handle, and after heaing just over from Law’s corner he won another flag kick off Peter Band.
But the best chance of the half fell to Peter Knox in the 21st minute. Tommy Agus released the ball to Knox who appeared to hesitate at Hyde offside appeals and disappointingly fired into the side netting with only Dootson to beat.
Dootson kept his side in the game with two brilliant saves inside a minute soon afterwards. First, Band almost headed Kris Bowler’s corner into his own net and Dootson had to flight himself to his right to divert it for another flag kick.
Then from that one, the ball was laid back to Law who had taken it, and the manager’s son drove it for the far post where once again Dootson had to go full stretch to tip it around the post.
And when Dootson didn’t get there, Earl Davis popped up on the line to keep out another Cusworth header onto Bowler’s cross. Reet followed up but his fierce rising drive just cleared the bar.
A measure of Alfreton’s first half superiority was a corner count of eight won against two conceded, but they count for nothing if they are not finished off, and Hyde exacted the maximum punishment for the Reds’ profligacy in the second half.
Gareth Seddon sounded a warning five minutes in with a shot across goal from Nicky Clee’s throw in, then two minutes later Mark Barnard broke up another Hyde foray.
But the visitors grabbed a 54th minute lead. Matthew Tipton helped on Clee’s throw to Dale Johnson who miskicked at the far post, but Seddon was on hand to lash home the loose ball from 16 yards.
Two minutes later the Reds had a real let off. Seddon played Clee through but his initial shot was blocked by James Lindley. Clee was quickly onto the rebound but hammered it against the far post and into the relieved keeper’s arms.
Brown was doing his best to inspire the home side and set up Cusworth for a goal attempt at the other end which was not far over the bar.
But Hyde were in control and doubled their lead on 65 minutes, when a simple pull back from the by-line was converted by Tipton from close range.
Substitute Chris Simm went close for Hyde with a volley from a corner which was deflected behind.
But Simm had the final word five minutes from the end. Agus lost possession to Lee Cartwright who fed the ball in for Simm’s finish to trickle over the line off the body of the exposed Lindley.

ALFRETON: Lindley, L. Wilson, Agus, Barnard, M.Wilson, Brown, Law, Bolwer, Cusworth, Knox, Reet (Glass 83). Subs not used: Doxey, Cockerill, Hannigan, Sutcliffe.
HYDE: Dootson, Brass, Lynch, Davis, Band, Innes, Cartwright (Warner 86), Johnson (Simm 77), Tipton, Seddon, Clee (Rick 87). Subs not used: Robinson, Harrison.
REFEREE: Matt Foley of Sheffield.
ATTENDANCE: 245.
GOALS: Hyde – Seddon 54; Tipton 65; Simm 85.
CAUTIONS: Alfreton – M. Wilson 49 (foul on Tipton); Barnard 57 (obstruction); Brown 82 (foul on Innes).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Anton Brown.