2005/06 season match No.50
Saturday, April 17th, 2006
Nationwide North
Alfreton Town 2, Hyde United 0
Match report by Gordon Foster (Mansfield CHAD). Pics by Phil Lucic.


IT was Alfreton Town’s only double of the season it was Hyde United’s biggest away defeat, and it ensured Alfreton Town’s Conference North survival.
The Reds finally laid to rest any lingering mathematical worries with two second half goals. The styles may have contrasted, but they were equal in value.
Both Chris Howard and Sam Litchfield got their first goals for the club, but whereas Howard’s was a tremendous 30-yard blockbuster that gave Tigers’ keeper Mark Crossley (not the former Forest man) no chance, Litchfield’s was a mis-hit effort, which crept just inside the post.
Much of the game was forgettable. Alfreton played the first half as if the relegation jitters were still getting to them, remote though that chance was.
And Hyde, who had a better away record than at home, and had not lost on their travels by more than one goal all season, came closest to breaking the first half deadlock.
That was a minute before the break, when Nathan Wharton’s 30-yard effort beat the upward-stretching Simon Rayner, dipped viciously, and rattled the bar.
Alfreton’s best chance of the first half came in the 28th minute, when Emmet Friars curled a free kick from just outside the box in the inside right position towards the near post, and the diving Crossley managed to divert it around the upright.
Earlier Michael Rankine, set up by good work from man of the match Jon Stevenson, had forced Crossley to parry a vicious shot.
Hyde, though, had the better of a lack lustre first half without unduly troubling Rayner, apart from that late effort.
The second half was more of a spectacle, and Alfreton began to take the upper hand.
John O’Kane’s stretching leg prevented Litchfield’s cross from reaching the well-placed Stevenson after the Wigan Athletic youngster had cut in along the right by-line.
However, it took a superbly timed challenge by Ryan Clarke in the 61st minute to deny Dale Johnson a shot on goal after the Hyde striker had been sent clear by Wharton.
Clarke was playing central defence in the absence of the injured Mark Turner who missed his first game of the season, leaving the former Boston United defender as the only remaining ever-present
Two minutes later Chris Bettney made his appearance, and within a further minute he had played a part in the Reds’ first goal.
The substitute fed Stevenson on the left, his cross was half-cleared, and Howard let fly from around 30 yards – what a way to break his duck for the club!
It was almost 2-0 in the 77th minute. Hyde, pushing forward, won a free kick, from which Alfreton broke through Stevenson along the left, and when he tried to turn the ball in to Litchfield, David German managed to cut out the cross, but at a price as he overstretched and was soon replaced.
However, Litchfield made the points and the Conference North place safe with an 85th-minute goal. Bettney and Stevenson worked well in the right of the box but then contrived to get in each other’s way. Nevertheless, the ball broke to Litchfield who, despite completely mis-hitting his shot, saw it creep inside the far post.
It should have been 3-0 three minutes later when Stevenson latched onto a long clearance and unleashed a cracking shot that came back off the bar. Litchfield won the clearance and his crisp low drive brought a fine diving save out of Crossley.
Hyde substitute Chris Lynch was lucky to stay on the field in stoppage time for a nasty kick at Howard, which earned him only a yellow card.
Prior to the game a minute's silence was held in memory of stalwart Reds supporter Ray Dennis who had sadly passed away four days previously. The final twist was a cameo appearance by Mick Godber two minutes into three of overtime, his 200th in an Alfreton shirt.
ALFRETON: Rayner, Mills, Featherstone, Friars, Clarke, Nwadike, Howard, Fisher, Rankine (Bettney 63), Stevenson, Litchfield (Godber 90+2). Subs not used: Powell, Bodkin, Robinson.
HYDE: Crossley, German (Lynch 79), Armstrong, Wharton, Flynn, O’Kane, Tolson, Harrison, Clee, Johnson, Hanley (Brackenridge ht). Subs not used: Caldecott, Jones, Dean.
REFEREE: Michael Naylor of Sheffield.
ATTENDANCE: 281.
SCORERS: Alfreton – Howard 64; Litchfield 85.
CAUTIONS: Alfreton – Litchfield 70 (kicking ball away). Hyde – Hanley 33 (foul on Fisher); Wharton 80 (‘professional’ foul on Bettney); Lynch 90+1 (kicking Howard).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Jon Stevenson.