ALFRETON Town’s gutsy display was not enough to prevent league leaders Kettering from maintaining their season-long unbeaten away league record on Saturday.
The full-time professional Poppies arrived at the Impact Arena sitting five points clear at the top of Blue Square North, and never really looked in danger of surrendering their proud record.
Before a season’s best crowd of 745, which included a huge following from Northamptonshire, Kettering’s 2-0 interval lead, provided by Brett Solkhon and Tom Kemp, was a fair reflection of the first half play.
And although the Reds made it more of a contest in the second half, they were hampered by the dismissal of skipper Tony Butler six minutes into the restart.
Even so, Josh Law pulled one back from the penalty spot six minutes from time, but Kettering’s professionalism ensured that there would be no late comeback.
Matt Glass’ midweek Derbyshire Senior Cup hat-trick did not earn him a starting shirt. Paul Clayton and Peter Knox were given the nod up front with Glass and Brian Cusworth on the bench, which also included new giant central defender Karl Colley – a former Kettering player who had signed in midweek from UniBond League Sheffield.
Alfreton began brightly and in the third minute Laurie Wilson’s long throw in gave Law a shot at goal, which was blocked, as was Steve Warne’s follow-up which was stopped on the line by Poppies keeper Lee Harper.
Two minutes later Kettering’s Craig Westcarr won their first corner from which Jean-Paul Marna’s glancing header beat the far post.
As the visitors began to establish a foothold, Butler had to be in smartly to thwart Chris Beardsley who had escaped the attentions of Matt Wilson to put himself in on goal.
And although Clayton’s speculative 25-yard effort did not clear Harper’s bar by much, by this time most of the game was being played in the Alfreton half.
Westcarr and Beardsley both went close from rebounds after Kyle Sutcliffe had parried attempts from Gary Mills and Marna.
Solkhon really should have broken the deadlock in the 21st minute. Tommy Jaszczun crossed to the near post, where the incoming Solkhon met the ball but volleyed wide from close range.
However, within two minutes Solkhon had atoned for his miss. Westcarr sent a corner from the left beyond the far post where John Dempster knocked it back into the danger area, and Solkhon was left with a routine finish.
Westcarr was proving to be something of a thorn in the Reds’ side, and on the half-hour he set up another chance, this time with a low cross to Mills who contrived to scoop over from close range.
When Alfreton did get forward, Knox latched onto Butler’s through ball but was denied a shot by Dempster’s last ditch challenge.
However, the visitors were soon back on the attack, and doubled their lead in the 41st minute when Kemp met Westcarr’s well flighted free kick from the right with a towering, thumping header which hit the back of the net.
Laurie Wilson thought he had got one back as the first half entered overtime, but having steered in a low cross from Law he was thwarted by an offside flag.
Alfreton’s task grew sterner six minutes into the restart when Beardsley, chasing a long ball through the middle, was brought down in the semi-circle by last defender Butler, earning the Reds skipper a straight red card.
Marna’s free kick was deflected for a corner which was headed behind for a second flag kick, but before that could be taken Colley was sent on to replace Warne and square up to his former club.
Despite the man disadvantage Alfreton were making more of a fist of it this half, and the contest was much more even.
The Reds could count themselves unlucky on the hour as, following another free kick by Law, both Kyle McFadzean and Knox had efforts blocked.
Cusworth made his appearance just after the hour and it took him just two minutes to get his name into the referee’s notebook for a foul on Solkhon.
Meanwhile, Law’s deep corner was headed back into the box by Colley for Clayton’s overhead kick to fly just the wrong side of the post.
Beardsley had the ball in the Alfreton net in the 76th minute but that was ruled out for a push.
And 10 minutes later the Reds were thrown a lifeline. Law’s corner was handled by Beardsley in a packed penalty area, and Law hit the spot kick to Harper’s left to reward his man of the match performance for the home side.
But there was no way that Kettering were going to allow an equaliser, and indeed they almost added a third as the game went into stoppage time.
Sutcliffe was way out of position having gone out of his area to his left to clear. The ball fell to David Bridges, whose 25-yard effort went wide of the gaping goal.
ALFRETON: Sutcliffe, McFadzean, Brown, Butler, M. Wilson, Warne (Colley 54), Law, Walton, Clayton (Glass 75), Knox (Cusworth 61), L. Wilson. Subs not used: Barnard, Senior.
KETTERING: Harper, Eaden, Jaszczun (Shilton 66), Dempster, Kemp, Solkhon, Westcarr (Hall 73), Mills, Beardsley, Bridges, Marna. Subs not used: Spencer, Brady, Bussey.
REFEREE: Robert Madley of Ossett.
ATTENDANCE: 745.
GOALS: Alfreton – Law 86 pen. Kettering – Solkhon 23; Kemp 41.
CAUTIONS: Alfreton – Cusworth 63 (foul on Solkhon). Kettering – Shilton 79 (foul on Walton).
SENT OFF: Alfreton – Butler 51 (‘professional’ foul on Beardsley).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Josh Law.
NEW DUO: Latest signings Karl Colley (left) and Rob Pacey.
