Report by Frank Bridges
LATE goals in each half rewarded Alfreton Town’s quality performance at Ewen Fields on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over high flying Hyde United.
Paul Clayton fired the Reds ahead as the first half entered stoppage time, and Peter Knox came up with a superb individual goal five minutes from time.
But credit for the win, which avenged an earlier 3-0 home defeat, also goes to keeper Kyle Sutcliffe and a resilient defence in which Tony Butler was outstanding, to deny the Tigers a goal at home for the first time this season.
Despite their high league placing, Hyde had gone off the boil a little in recent weeks, while Alfreton have continued to impress.
Nevertheless it was the home side who applied more of the early pressure, with Laurie Wilson clearing a third minute cross from Gareth Seddon which was just too deep for Matthew Tipton.
Alfreton also had an early chance, from a set piece, after Clayton, cutting in from the right, was impeded by David Morley. But the free kick was wasted.
Hyde won a couple of corners as they pushed on in search of an early breakthrough, and Sutcliffe needed two attempts to hold Dale Johnson’s 25-yard daisy cutter.
Alfreton responded with Knox receiving Kyle McFadzean’s high ball down the left, and setting up Laurie Wilson to put in a telling cross, only for Clayton to glance his header just wide.
Butler came to the Reds’ rescue when a rare slip by Matt Wilson let in Seddon, then Nicky Clee jinked across the 18-yard line to let fly with a rasping drive that Sutcliffe did well to parry.
The game by this time was taking on an end to end nature, with Josh Law scuffing his shot wide after a strong run and, at the other end, Seddon sending in a 20-yard drive that rose just too quickly and cleared the bar.
Laurie Wilson was narrowly wide from similar distance, before the home side had a real let off in the 36th minute. Home keeper Craig Dootson could only parry Clayton’s angled shot at the feet of Knox six yards out, but with three defenders on the line Knox’s shot was bundled out for a corner.
However, Alfreton were well into their stride, and when they took a 45th minute lead it was no less than they deserved. McFadzean fed the ball down the right to Law, whose impetus carried him past the challenge of Danny Warner, and although the ensuing cross eluded Knox, Clayton was on hand to put it away.
The Reds had two early chances to double their lead after the interval as twice Knox found himself clear on the left edge of the area, but on both occasions he pulled his shot wide of the near post. David Morley was close to a 62nd minute equaliser with a glancing free header wide from a corner.
The Reds continued to threaten though, and it took an excellent piece of defending by Band to deny them a second goal in the 69th minute. Band remained calm as Clayton forced Steve Warne’s through ball past Dootson, and the defender managed to clear after shadowing the Town striker all the way.
Dootson came to Hyde’s rescue four minutes later as Warner presented Knox with the ball following Clayton’s run and centre. Morley got in two headed clearances as Alfreton continued to attack with purpose, and in the 84th minute Clayton headed Laurie Wilson’s cross wide.
But a minute later Knox embarked on a solo run from the half way line, having been put in by Chris Walton. The front man shrugged off a challenge by Morley and slotted past the advancing Dootson.
Hyde almost managed to preserve their record of never failing to score at home in the 90th minute, bur as Clee attempted to turn the ball in from an angle Matt Wilson managed to deflect it for a corner. And three minutes into stoppage time Sutcliffe did well to tip skipper Chris Brass’ low drive around his post.
HYDE UNITED: Dootson, Brass, Warner, Morley, Band, Cartwright, Johnson (Wharton 68), Bushell, Tipton (Simm 58), Seddon, Clee. Subs not used: Innes, Lynch, Robinson.
ALFRETON: Sutcliffe, McFadzean, Barnard, M. Wilson, Butler, Warne (Glass 90), Law, Walton, Clayton, Knox, L. Wilson. Subs not used: Pacey, Senior, McDonald.
REFEREE: J. Simpson of Carnforth.
ATTENDANCE: 509.
GOALS: Alfreton – Clayton 45; Knox 85.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Tony Butler.
