2007/2008 Season. Game no. 44. Blue Square Conference North
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Leigh RMI 1, ALFRETON TOWN 0

ALFRETON Town manager Nicky Law labelled his side's abject display as 'totally unacceptable' after the Reds slipped to the most disappointing defeat of the season with a 1-0 reverse at bottom of the table Leigh RMI.
For the second season running, Alfreton couldn't pick up any points reward at the home of a club seemingly destined for UniBond Premier Division pastures next season and a 72nd minute Brad Maylett goal proved enough for the relegation haunted hosts.
The game in general lacked quality but the Reds simply couldn't piece anything together and numerous crosses from dead ball situations went to waste with some woeful direction of pass.
Law commented: "Sometimes you learn a lot more about your players in defeat than in victory and I learned a lot on Saturday about certain people.
"If some players are looking at being here next season they have done themselves no favours."
The defeat - a fourth in a row on the road - dropped the Reds a place in the table to 15th and, with just eight games left, leaves them at least two big rungs of the ladder away from bettering the club's best ever finishing place in Conference North.
Kyle McFadzean had finally recovered from his latest bout of tonsillitis to return to the side at right back with Laurie Wilson moving into midfield and the unfortunate Chris Walton dropping to the bench. With Matt Wilson carrying a slight knock, Rob Pacey got a chance to show his credentials at centre back.
The first raking, hopeful cross came from McFadzean on six minutes with his deep right drifted effort going beyond the back post.
Two minutes later Paul Clayton's cross into the box was blocked at source by Matt Lawlor and Clayton's follow up stinging drive was held by Tim Dittmer in the home goal.
In reply Maylett's strong run down the right ended with is cross blocked by Anton Brown for a corner.
Matt Glass put together a forceful foray down the home side's left but he ran it out when confronted by defenders at the bye-line.
Rob Evans headed a Kris Bowler free kick behind for another fruitless corner before Lawlor had to scramble behind as Clayton played Glass in from Tony Butler's through-ball.
After Owen Roberts flattened Glass, Bowler's free kick from the edge of the area was fired high over then on the half hour Clayton headed a Josh Law free kick over after Evans had fouled Steve Warne.
Laurie Wilson did get a shot on target on 31 minutes, his 25-yarder held by Dittmer.
One rare decent move from Alfreton involving Clayton, Warne and Brown ended with the latter's cross blocked for a corner by Maylett.
The best move of the match came in the next minute. Law's corner led to Pacey and Warne both having efforts blocked after Dittmer punched only as far as Bowler and the ball was worked back to Law whose shot was saved under the bar by the stretching home keeper.
Leigh had a couple of efforts before half time but Richard Chetcuti shot high and wide from 25 yards on 39 minutes before Mark Smyth's cross from the right struck Tony Butler and went behind for a corner.
The first minute of the second half opened with Law firing just wide after he latched onto Clayton's cross from the left.
Pacey needed lengthy treatment a minute later after being injured in a scramble for a Law corner.
A strong left flank run by Andy Wright for the hosts saw his cross held by Laurence Matthewson as Smyth homed in on it.
At the other end another Law flag-kick was punched out for another by an under pressure Dittmer.
The hosts had begun to up their game in the second period though and when Chetcuti produced a strong run, Brown did enough to put him off, but Matthewson's partial clearance led to McFadzean having to concede a corner from which the only goal came.
From the flag kick Lawlor's shot was blocked on the line and Maylett rammed home the loose ball amid the ensuing melee.
There was a let off a minute later when Matthewson's clearance was charged down by Smyth but fortunately the ball ran behind.
Alfreton hit back to win another corner from which Bowler's delivery was headed just past the far post by McFadzean and three minutes later substitute Brian Cusworth stabbed the ball just wide from Bowler's cross.
Matthewson then needed two attempts to catch Evans's sharp cross before the Reds won yet another corner when Cusworth crossed for substitute Danny Reet whose shot was diverted behind.
However, it was Leigh who finished the stronger and after Neil Carroll had fired over from a good position, Matthewson had to scamper out to the touchline to boot clear as home substitute Gavin Salmon broke free down the right.
Alfreton quickly need to rediscover their earlier season spark if they are to halt an alarming slide which has seen five defeats in the last six outings and avoid ending the season in the lowest finishing position ever in the division which they currently look on course for.

LEIGH RMI: Tim Dittmer, Paul Booth, Owen Roberts, Neil Carroll, Matt Lawlor (Andy Heald 79), Rob Evans, Brad Maylett, jon Goulding, Richard Chetcuti (Steve Settle 90), Mark Smyth, Andy Wright (Gavin Salmon 68). Subs not used: Willis, Brockley.
ALFRETON TOWN: Laurence Matthewson, Kyle McFadzean, Anton Brown, Tony Butler, Rob Pacey, Laurie Wilson, Josh law (Brian Cusworth 70), Kris Bowler, Paul Clayton (Danny Reet 83), Matt Glass, Steve Warne (Jason St. Juste 74). Subs not used: Mark Barnard, Chris Walton.
REFEREE: Ryan Newman of Barnsley.
ATTENDANCE: 225.
GOAL: Leigh RMI - Brad Maylett, 72 minutes.
CAUTIONS: Leigh - Evans (unsporting behaviour, 62). Alfreton Town - Laurie Wilson (20, dissent); Anton Brown (51, foul on Smyth); Brian Cusworth (89, foul on Maylett).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Tony Butler.