2004/05 - Match No. 48
Nationwide North
Tuesday, March 8th, 2005
Alfreton Town 1, Kettering Town 2
Report by James Miller (Mansfield CHAD)
Alfreton’s best performance since Christmas ended in more disappointment after two stunning goals from Kettering settled Tuesday’s fiery encounter.
The Reds players can count themselves very unlucky with the outcome and must be left wondering what they have to do to win a game.
Lee Butler saved Darren Lynch’s hotly contested penalty in the 34th minute, and it seemed that the Reds’ luck had at last changed - especially when man of the match Luke Foster, so impressive in defence, headed them into the lead seven minutes later.
But the ‘bogey man’ was not to be denied, as Carl Bradshaw was injured and had to go to hospital, stretchered off after a nasty challenge by Mark Danks.
And the visitors won it with two unstoppable goals in the 66th and 75th minutes, before Lynch was sent off in stoppage time for lashing out at Grant Brown.
“Of course we’re aggrieved by the result,” said manager Dave Lloyd afterwards.
“It’s the best we’ve played for a long time, we’ve dominated the game for long periods and created chances.
“We’ve showed a lot of desire and commitment, but had no luck again.
“They have scored two great goals but, apart from the penalty, Lee Butler hasn’t had a save to make, whereas the Kettering keeper has made some great saves.
“This was more like our true selves, and we’ll go to Barrow on Saturday with our heads up and taking a lot of positives from that performance - every member of the team played very well.”
The match started at a high tempo and, nine minutes in, Poppies captain Jamie Patterson was booked for a dangerous tackle on Nick Heinemann.
The first chance fell to the lively Chris Bettney who latched onto a cross field pass from Mick Godber, however Steve Croudson was alert to the danger and produced a good block to deny Bettney.
Kettering responded with a well taken free-kick from Patterson which found the head of James Gould, who perhaps should have done better with the chance than to guide it wide.
Kettering were given the chance to take the lead in the 34th minute when Matt Fisher was controversially adjudged by the assistant referee to have fouled Danks inside the area.
Heinemann was booked for his protest, but after a long delay Butler pulled off a great save from Lynch’s spot kick down to his right, and Bradshaw completed the clearance.
For once Lady Luck seemed to be smiling on the Reds, and seven minutes later they finally broke their home league goals drought of 513 minutes..
Bradshaw’s curling pinpoint free kick from the left found Foster, who looped a delightful header over the stranded Steve Croudson to give Alfreton a deserved half-time lead.
Almost immediately after half time Godber was put through by Bettney, but Croudson dashed to his 18-yard line and won the race for possession by a whisker to hack clear.
Alfreton continued to pile on the pressure and came close through Bettney’s quick free kick on 52 minutes, which flew just wide.
Five minutes later Bettney put in a dangerous cross which was scrambled clear by the rattled Kettering defence.
But it all began to go wrong again when Danks clattered into Bradshaw who had to be stretcheered off and taken to hospital with a gashed foot. He was be replaced by Paul Teather.
Danks, having already been booked was quickly substituted by manager Kevin Wilson before he could be red carded.
Two minutes later Emeka Nwadike should have sealed the game but his effort was superbly saved by Croudson.
Kettering equalised against the run of play in the 66th minute when James Gould fired in an unstoppable free kick from just outside the area.
Nine minutes later the Poppies took the lead when a corner was only half cleared and Wayne Diuk unleashed a half volley into the top corner before Butler could move.
In a bid to rescue the situation manager Lloyd threw on an extra attacker in big striker Mark Sale.
It came so close to paying off for him. For Sale immediately started wreaking havoc in Kettering’s defence and only another excellent save from Croudson denied Peter Duffield.
Sale’s presence continued to cause problems and his downward header set up Ian Robinson whose volley was again blocked by the busy Croudson..
Alfreton were running out of time and despite having a couple more decent chances, the best of which saw Duffield’s rising shot on the turn just cleared the bar, the equaliser they so richly deserved eluded them.
Three minutes into stoppage time a long ball from the Kettering defence gave Darren Lynch half a chance which Brown’s determination denied him.
The striker reacted angrily and lashed out at Brown, and for once Mr Simpson was decisive with his red card.
Lynch might have been followed to the dressing room moments later when Patterson, also on a yellow, brought down Heinemann on the edge of the area.
But this time the card stayed in the merciful Mr Simpson’s pocket.