2004/05 - Match No. 29
Nationwide North
Tuesday, December 7th, 2004
Alfreton Town 2, Moor Green 2
Report by Gordon Foster (Mansfield CHAD).
For the second time in four days Alfreton failed to deal with relegation threatened visitors to the Impact Arena, as the lethargic Reds were second-best to Moor Green for most of the contest.
Alfreton looked decidedly jaded after their recent heavy fixture programme, and lacked any sort of spark.
They deservedly fell behind to a Richard Follitt goal on the half-hour, but two strikes by Mick Godber late in the half saw them take an unlikely lead into the interval.
But things grew no better for the Reds in the second half, as they appeared to let some poor refereeing get to them, and Guy Sanders equalised just after the hour.
And, with Harrogate winning 3-1 at Stalybridge, Alfreton were knocked off the top of the league for the first time since 18th September.
Alfreton made one change from the side which drew with Barrow on Saturday, John Knapper being preferred in midfield to Emeka Nwadike.
The Moors showed their early attacking intentions winning three corners inside the first nine minutes.
From the last of these Aaron Brown saw his shot cleared off the line by Mitch Ward.
Alfreton seemed strangely lethargic, and although Godber's neat lay-off found Matt Fisher running in, he was quickly crowded out by covering defenders.
The visitors, though, continued to belie their lowly league position, and a dangerous run in from the left by Jae Martin ended with Junior English not quite managing a telling touch in front of goal.
English was desperately unlucky not to give the visitors a 19th-minute lead, though, when his speculative lob from the right touch line deceived Lee Butler who let it sail over him and was then relieved when it clipped the angle on its way out.
Grant Brown got the ball away under pressure from Sean Dowdall following yet another Mooors corner.
And although Peter Duffield's 22-yard rising drive just cleared the bar, it was no surprise when the visitors took a 30th-minute lead.
The ever-dangerous Martin again cut in from the left, and his cross led to a melee in which a couple of shots were blocked before Follitt forced the ball over the line from close range.
Alfreton could have few complaints, but it did sting them into action at last.
Emeka Nwadike replaced the injured Fisher two minutes later, and he played a part in the Reds' 36th-minute equaliser.
Ward's curling free kick from the left was headed over his own bar by Ben Petty, and from the resulting corner Nwadike's stooping header was brilliantly parried by Rachel.
But the ball was cleared only back out to Ward, who returned it into the area where Godber swept it home from seven yards.
And, as the half entered stoppage time, Godber timed his run perfectly onto Nwadike's ball over the top of the Moors defence and cleverly lobbed it over the advancing Rachel, to give the Reds a half time lead that, over the 45 minutes, they hardly deserved.
The second half was slow to get going, but Moor Green began the more purposefully although play was largely confined to midfield.
That was until the hour mark when David Bridgwater won a corner off Bettney. Ian Robinson's clearance fell to Bridgwater who interchanged with English before the ball was laid back for Guy Sanders to rifle through a crowded area past the possibly unsighted Butler.
Referee Andy Smith had riled the home side and their fans all evening, with his apparent indulgence of any Moors misdemeanours while punishing anything and everything for the Reds.
But when for the umpteenth time Godber was climbed on by a home defender the official played a good advantage, allowing Chris Dolby - a 51st-minute substitute for Knapper - to send Bettney away on the right, however the winger's finish was poor and Rachel easily gathered.
Martin stretched a leg to intercept and divert the ball back to his keeper as Godber again tried to send Bettney clear.
Alfreton's final throw of the dice was to send on Mark Sale for Godber for the final seven minutes.
Ward latched onto a clearance of Robinson's centre three minutes from time but his 25-yard volley flew just wide.
However, in stoppage time Darren Middleton should have won it for the visitors when, in space on the right of the area, he ballooned his finish high and wide.

ALFRETON TOWN: Butler, Robinson, Blount, Chapman, G. Brown, Ward, Bettney, Fisher (Nwadike 32), Godber (Sale 83), Duffield, Knapper (Dolby 51). Subs not used: Goddard, Holmes.
MOOR GREEN: Racehl, English, Follett, A. Brown, Sanders, Petty, Bridgwater, Middleton, Dowdall (Hall 78), Martin, Trainer. Subs not used: Faulds, Bradley, Vaughan, Foy.
REFEREE: Andy Smith of Castleford.
ATTENDANCE: 334.
SCORERS: Alfreton - Godber 36, 45. Moor Green - Follett 30; Sanders 61.
CAUTIONS: Alfreton - Robinson 57 (kicking ball away); Nwadike 86 (foul on Bridgwater).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Mick Godber.