2006/2007 season Match no.10 - Nationwide North
Saturday, September 16th, 2006
ALFRETON TOWN 3, Moor Green 0

Match report byGordon Foster (Mansfield CHAD). Pics by Phil Lucic.

INJURY hit Alfreton recovered from their midweek local derby defeat at Worksop to end Moor Green’s impressive away record on Saturday and leave the Moors still seeking their first win over the Reds.
Town gained their second victory of the season as a result of a workmanlike display after taking a second minute lead through Tristram Whitman’s first goal of the campaign, and followed it up with two goals in four minutes from Gary Sucharewycz and Emeka Nwadike as the game entered its final quarter.
But the name on most of the delighted supporters’ lips was that of Mark Rawle, who enjoyed a man of the match debut up front and left the field to loud applause when he was withdrawn eight minutes from time with the game won.
Rawle had played for Woking and had a loan spell at Gravesend and Northfleet last season, before training with Crawley Town at the start of the new campaign and then moving home to Leicester, whereupon he became available.
Manager Gary Mills was not interested in talking about bouncing back from the Worksop defeat afterwards.
“I’ve not even mentioned that game to the players,” he said. “I just want to talk about three goals and three points.” And who could blame him?
“There’s no doubt that football-wise we’ve played a lot better this season,” he continued, “and today we’ve been clever with it.
“Mark Rawle gave us something extra up front , playing as he did off the shoulders of their centre-halves, and we’ve got crosses into the box and men in there to receive them on several occasions to finish them off.”
On 27-year-old Rawle, Mills added: “I’m delighted to have signed him. He’s got League experience and wants to get back in there. I played alongside him for Boston United in the Conference. He’s a great lad with a great attitude.”
Mills was also full of praise for those of his troops who took the field still carrying knocks.
“We had six players on the treatment table on Thursday night, and some of them played today still carrying injuries, so all credit to them. Every one of them was desperate to play, and with attitudes like that we’ve always got a great chance.”
Alfreton made the best possible start with a goal inside the first two minutes.
The Moors defence failed to clear Marcus Ebdon’s free kick from the left, Mark Rawle had his shot blocked, but WHITMAN was on hand to steer home the rebound for his first goal of the season.
Andy Tiday should have made it 2-0 in the eighth minute. Receiving Nwadike’s neat ball forward, the winger cleverly flicked it past Daniel Lewis, only to see it come back off the post. He then hit his second attempt beyond the far upright.
Jason Moore had a chance to level five minutes later but his shot from inside the area struck Mark Turner, enabling Dale Roberts to collect.
Roberts saved again from Peter Faulds and Moore, and Phil Trainer also went close, before Alfreton hit back to regain the upper hand.
But there was fury at referee Ian Knee in the 42nd minute. Ebdon’s corner was not cleared, the ball was played back out to him, and from his subsequent cross Rawle ran in to power a bullet header goalwards, which was stopped on the line by Richard Follett’s forearm.
Mr Knee, who is remembered by Alfreton fans as the referee who allowed Altrincham a goal against them after the ball had rebounded into play off the advertising hoardings, refused a clear case for a penalty and probably a red card.
Indeed, the official was probably as popular with the home crowd as he had been on that day two seasons ago, as he seemed to give everything to the Moors and nothing to the home side.
Then, as the half entered stoppage time, another tremendous Rawle header slammed against the bar after good work on the left by Tiday.
Moor Green began the second half with their manager’s words ringing in their ears, but substitute Daniel Davidson wasted a gilt-edged chance four minutes in, shooting against Roberts’ legs in a one-on-one.
The visitors’ only real period of control followed, during which Lee Ayres looped a header onto the bar, and Faulds and Terry Flemming both went close with 20-yarders.
But Alfreton hit back again to secure the points with two goals in four minutes.
First on 73 SUCHAREWYCZ scored with a powerful header onto Whitman’s cross after the striker had found a way around the back of Philip Midworth on the right.
That came just seconds after Sucharewycz had an effort stopped on the line, legally this time, by Follett.
Then Steve Melton’s 25-yard piledriver brought a tremendous save out of Daniel Lewis after being set up by substitute Anton Brown, who had replaced Tiday as the Reds switched to 4-4-2.
Ebdon’s resulting corner found NWADIKE, who rose highest among a crowd of players at the far post to glance home a header, which made the points safe.
Moors substitute Daniel Davidson had a couple of half-chances late on, but they were purely academic as the Reds played out time.
ALFRETON: Roberts, Clarke, Featherstone, Sucharewycz, Turner, Melton (Barnard 90), Nwadike, Ebdon, Rawle (Mitchell 82), Whitman, Tiday (Brown 66). Subs not used: Burbeary, Glass.
MOOR GREEN: Lewis, Scott (Midworth h/t), Follett, Ayres, Penny, Flemming, Morrison, Middleton, Moore (Davidson 45+1), Faulds (English 80), Trainer. Subs not used: Bridgwater, Sanders.
REFEREE: Ian Knee of Wakefield.
ATENDANCE: 241
SCORERS: Alfreton – Whitman 2; Sucharewycz 73; Nwadike 76.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Mark Rawle.