2004/05 - Match No. 35
FA Trophy, 3rd Round
Saturday, January 15th, 2005
Kettering Town 0, Alfreton Town 0
Report by Gordon Foster (Mansfield CHAD).
ALFRETON gained a deserved replay after an enthralling match at Rockingham Road, which had everything but goals.
An evenly contested encounter ebbed and flowed from end to end, but defences were on top for the greater part of the time, and there was not a lot of goalmouth action, although both goalkeepers had occasions when they needed to be at their best.
It was Reds' second draw at Kettering this season, following a 1-1 stalemate back in September.
Manager Dave Lloyd was satisfied with the result, although on the down side it was Alfreton's third without a goal.
“We worked hard and matched a side who are on a great run of form, and showed once again that we can live with the best,” said Lloyd afterwards.
“It was a great game for the spectators too, with a lot of end-to-end action, and although it’s three games without a goal I would have taken this result before the match to get them back for a replay.”
Mick Godber had a great chance to end that goalless sequence after only five minutes, but his shot on the turn onto Chris Bettney's nod down was weak.
The Poppies' first chance on 12 was ended with Grant Brown dashing across quickly to head away James Gould's cross from in front of Jonny Rowan.
The first half was littered by several dubious offside decisions, one of which was an action replay of Peter Duffield's at Macclesfield, except that this time he shot wide.
Blount and Grant Brown both had to clear for corners during a spell of Kettering pressure midway through the half, then Lee Butler superbly parried Brett Solkhon's 20-yard blockbuster.
Butler's opposite number Steve Croudson was also in action with a save low to his left from Godber.
Alfreton hearts were in mouths in the 38th minute when Ian Robinson pulled back Darren Lynch as the home striker ran into the area, but fortunately for the Reds the offside flag was already up.
The game stepped up a gear in the 52nd minute when a superb interception by Ben Chapman prevented Lynch's squared pass from reaching Ollie Burgess.
And Solkhon's header onto the resulting corner was brilliantly tipped onto the top of the bar by the excellent Butler.
But Croudson had to almost match that with a spectacular save from Mark Sale's header onto Chris Bettney's free kick from the right shortly afterwards.
The game did threaten to boil over for a spell towards the end when a foul led to a brawl which brought bookings for Matt Fisher – playing against his old club – and Kettering’s Jamie Paterson, while Craig McIlwain was lucky to stay on the field after twice dumping Mark Sale while unsighted by the referee.
In stoppage time, another great challenge by Grant Brown, Reds’ best outfield player on the day, denied Lynch a clear shot on goal.
KETTERING: Croudson, Diuk, McCafferty, Solkhon, McIlwain, D. Brown, Burgess, J. Gould, Lynch, Rowan (Difante 85), Paterson. Subs not used: Matthews, R. Gould, French, Bridgeford.
ALFRETON: Butler, Robinson, Blount, Chapman, G. Brown, Cooper, Bettney (Holmes 90), Fisher (Nwadike 90), Godber, Duffield, Sale. Subs not used: Teather, Woolley, Saxby.
REFEREE: Mr M. Lever of Leicester.
ATTENDANCE: 1,113.
CAUTIONS: Kettering - Paterson 77 (brawl); Alfreton - Fisher 77 (brawl).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Lee Butler.