2006/2007 season Match no. 4 - Nationwide North
Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006
ALFRETON TOWN 2, Hyde United 2

Match report by Kev Miles. Pics by Phil Lucic.

A N 89th minute Emeka Nwadike goal gained Alfreton Town a fair share of the spoils against Hyde United on Tuesday evening.
The Reds had looked in danger of ending up empty handed from an absorbing game of two halves as a deserved first half lead was overturned by a spirited attacking show as the Tigers bared their teeth in the second period.
Alfreton sprayed the ball about well during the first half but, having taken a seventh minute lead, they couldn't capitalise on their dominance to half time.
A second goal could have made a huge difference.
After the break the visitors creditably fought back with a gutsy showing which pushed the Reds back to such an extent the link between the back line and midfield disappeared for spells and it wasn't until late substitutions that Town rediscovered the route to goal.
There were two changes to the side which went down at Blyth Spartans with Marcus Ebdon handed his first start in midfield and Gary Sucharewycz his debut at centre back.  Both have finally overcome pre-season induced injuries.
Ebdon replaced Ashley Burbeary who went down with tonsillitis on Monday whilst Sucharewycz's inclusion meant Stuart Wall was rested to the bench.
The visitors arrived seeking their first points of the season after two narrow looking defeats but it was Alfreton who began the more purposeful and Tiday had a shot cleared from the line by Earl Davis.
Steve Melton did have to produce a superb block deep in the area to stop Gareth Seddon's shot reaching goal on six minutes but a minute later Alfreton were ahead from the game's first corner.
A short routine ended with Marcus Ebdon's deep cross to the far post being met by the rising RYAN CLARKE and his firm downward header back across goal nestled inside the far post.
Tiday, again impressively lively,  produced a lovely turn past Flynn and an even better cross for Palmer who was wrongly - and badly - given offside when one on one with Davis.
It was one of a number of frustratingly poor decisions by the same assistant.
Hyde's first flag kick on 15 minutes saw Lincoln Adams inches away from connecting with a David Eyres corner at the far post and minutes later Steve Pickford sent Seddon clear but he thankfully shot straight at Dale Roberts in the home goal.
For all Alfreton's neat build-ups and possession though the visitors created a handful of chances themselves and an Eyres shot flashed across the face of the home goal before the Hyde man hit a free-kick into the home wall.
Alfreton hit back well with Melton providing good quality passes and both full-backs raiding well but, despite a corner count of 5-1 in their favour, they reached half-time with just the one goal to show.
The visitors replaced Gerry Harrison with Steve Smith down the right at the interval and he immediately added an injection of pace with some lively runs.
After Mark Barnard had received treatment for a clash of heads, some patient Reds passing play ended with Melton firing wide.
The visitors began to get the bit between their teeth and Smith was close with a flashing shot across the face of goal from the right.
Hyde equalised on 64 minutes with a superbly struck free-kick from 22 yards inside the left post by former Oldham Athletic man DAVID EYRES.
Alfreton could feel somewhat aggrieved though as the award of it was contentious with Nwadike claiming Adams ran into him.
Barnard produced an excellent tackle on Smith deep in the area and was again injured in the process.
With the Reds having lost their way somewhat, Craig Mitchell replaced Jermaine Palmer up front with 22 minutes to go as manager Gary Mills tried to enthuse his side forward again.
However, there was another let off when a long throw by Flynn from the left bounced deep in the penalty area and fortunately evaded everyone.
Mitchell began to make himself known and after Ebdon sent him away down the right his cross just needed a touch as it sped through the visiting six yard area.
Hyde conceded a rash of free-kicks to keep the Reds from building up any attacking momentum. From one of them Gary Sucharewycz almost capped a fine debut but his header from Ebdon's cross dropped just over the far angle.
Matt Glass replaced Tristram Whitman on 77 minutes but it was Hyde who took the lead on 80 minutes with another piece of fortune.
Home keeper Dale Roberts appeared to have STEVE PICKFORD'S 25-yard shot covered but Sucharewycz threw himself at it and his attempted clearing header diverted the ball into the top corner.
A minute later Roberts kept the Reds alive when he produced a terrific diving save to keep out Seddon's 16-yard blast.
As Glass began to show his paces, Nathan Wharton became the game's only booking on 85 minutes when he hauled the youngster back to stop him getting away from the half way line.
Thankfully for the home fans, Alfreton managed to fight back for the fourth time in four games this season and the equaliser came from the best piece of football of the night.
Mitchell did really well to hold off two challengers and lay the ball wide right to Matt Glass and his drilled low cross from almost on the byline was thumped high into the roof of the net at the front post by EMEKA NWADIKE.
It was just reward for ‘Macca's' never say die attitude and for the Reds who didn't deserve to lose. There again it has to be said that neither did Hyde and a draw was the right result.
ALFRETON TOWN: Dale Roberts, Ryan Clarke, Mark Barnard,Gary Sucharewycz, Mark Turner, Stephen Melton, Emeka Nwadike, Marcus Ebdon, Jermaine Palmer (Craig Mitchell 68), Tristram Whitman (Matt Glass 77), Andy Tiday. subs not used: Lee Featherstone, Gary Mills, Stuart Wall.
HYDE UNITED: Craig Dootson, Lincoln Adams, Chris Lynch, Nathan Wharton, Mike Flynn, Earl Davis, Gerry Harrison (Steve Smith, ht), Steve Pickford, Dale Johnson, Gareth Seddon, David Eyres (Lee Rick 77). Subs not used: Nicky Hill, Liam Shirley, David Carnell.
REFEREE: Mr D R Street (Normanton, West Yorkshire).
ATTENDANCE: 267.
GOALS: Alfreton Town - Ryan Clarke (7), Emeka Nwadike (89). Hyde United - David Eyres (64), Steve Pickford (80).
CAUTIONS: Alfreton Town: None. Hyde United: Nathan Wharton (85 mins, foul on Matt Glass).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Ryan Clarke.