2006/2007 season Match no.15 - Nationwide North
Saturday, October 21st, 2006
Redditch United 3, ALFRETON TOWN 2

Report by Gordon Foster (Mansfield CHAD). Pics by Phil Lucic and Richard Hinckley (last five)

ALFRETON were left to contemplate a dry month points wise as their only action in a four week spell brought no reward at the Valley Stadium on Saturday.
A third-minute penalty by Ashley Burbeary was cancelled out four minutes later, then a goal either side of half time put United in command before Gary Sucharewycz provided an unfulfilled glimmer of hope with an 87th minute reply.
Since their last action the club had undergone an upheaval with two players released as a cost cutting measure and Lee Featherstone having accepted a better offer at Ilkeston.
But manager Gary Mills attributed the result to one factor alone.
“We lost the fight,” he said afterwards. “We know when we come to Redditch that we are going to have to fight for anything we get, we didn’t do that, and we’re going home with nothing.
“We have some players who are going to have to grow up very quickly. We haven’t become a poor team overnight, we’ve played some good football especially against the higher teams, but those teams are at the top because they can play but they can also scrap when they have to.
“We came here with a good chance of three points, but we got none, and points are what you are ultimately judged on.”
Had most of the rest shared the determination of Emeka Nwadike in midfield it might have been a different story. Nwadike made a number of telling challenges but his example went disregarded by most of his team mates.
Mills had brought in former Chesterfield striker David Reeves, who came on for the second half and did well.
“David has come in today as a favour to me to play for nothing,” Mills added, “but that’s where we are at now, and he put himself about when he went on.”
Redditch had one just once at home this season, so it seemed a good chance for Alfreton to end their 14-month-long away hoodoo.
And those hopes were raised in the first three minutes. Craig Mitchell laid off Tristram Whitman’s pass to Ryan Clarke – who had been pushed into midfield with Mills himself at right back – and Clarke’s shot was stopped by the arm of Damian Whitcombe.
The referee pointed straight to the spot and booked the defender, but Redditch furiously claimed ball to arm – perhaps with some justification. Burbeary, though, was unconcerned and hit a confident spot kick past Richard Anstiss.
It was just the start that Town needed, but the home side’s batting qualities earned them a seventh minute equaliser.
From a free kick on the half way line Lee Downes twisted and turned to try to make space for a shot. A succession of shots and rebounds ensued, before the predatory Simon Hollis forced the ball over the line.
Sucharewycz, acting captain in the absence of the injured Marcus Ebdon, made a vital challenge on Scott Rickards on the edge of the area a minute later to deny the Redditch new boy a shot at goal, and as the half went on Alfreton struggled more and more to get out of their own half.
In particular the mighty throws from the right by Exodus Geohaghon caused several problems – such was the strength of his throws that one cleared the crossbar without so much as a touch.
But if Redditch had a complaint about Alfreton’s early penalty goal, then so did the visitors when United went ahead in the 26th minute.
Hollis escaped the attentions of Mark Barnard, and the lively Chris Murphy swept home the cross with Barnard complaining bitterly to the official that he had been pushed over as Hollis dispossessed him.
Sucharewycz was having a sound game at the back, until his misplaced header almost set up Rickards. But Mark Turner was alive to the danger and forced the striker to shoot hurriedly off target.
Home skipper Carl Palmer had the ball in the Alfreton net in the 41st minute, but it was ruled out for a foul on Sucharewycz.
From the free kick Alfreton mounted a rare foray from which Whitman’s rising drive was superbly tipped over by Anstiss.
However, Turner was a relieved man in stoppage time when his attempted clearing header onto a Whitcombe free kick flew inches outside a post.
The arrival of Reeves for the second half gave Alfreton fresh impetus, and they spent more time pushing forward in search of an equaliser.
But Redditch were keen to expose the gaps as they hit on the counter, and Nwadike made a superbly timed challenge on Palmer who threatened to go clear.
The attacking options were increased as Mills and Burbeary made way for Andy Tiday and Matt Glass, with Clarke reverting to his more accustomed right back role.
Both substitutes made some pacy runs at the home defence, but still Alfreton looked vulnerable to the counter attack, and Hollis forced Dale Roberts into a diving save.
However, the goal which left Alfreton with a mountain to climb in the 69th minute came from an horrendous error by the hitherto impressive Sucharewycz, who dallied on the ball and allowed himself to be caught in possession by Murhpy. He squared to Rickards and the chance was almost unmissable.
Alfreton raised their game in a bid to salvage something, and when Whitman’s low cross just beat Glass’ outstretched leg it ran through to Tiday, whose return ball in was turned behind by Palmer before Glass could capitalise.
Tiday’s rising 80th-minute drive also looked goalbound but swerved away at the last second.
Town had a glimmer of hope in the 87th minute when Tiday played a corner to the near post. Nwadike’s header was blocked on the line, and Sucharewycz put away the rebound.
But, still devastated by his earlier error, the celebrations completely passed him by, and despite five added minutes the goal was too little, too late.
REDDITCH: Anstiss, A. Walker (Cotterill 81), Whitcombe, Rea, Geohaghon, Murphy, Downes, Alsop, Rickards (D. Walker 75), Hollis (Taylor 64), Palmer. Subs not used: Petty, Francis.
ALFRETON: Roberts, Mills (Glass 56), Barnard, Sucharewicz, Turner, Burbeary (Tiday 56), Clarke, Nwadike, Mitchell (Reeves ht), Whitman, Brown. Subs not used: Magee, Harcourt.
REFEREE: Rob Merchant of Stony Stratford.
ATTENDANCE: 380.
SCORERS: Redditch – Hollis 7; Murphy 26; Richards 89. Alfreton – Burbeary 3 (pen); Sucharewycz 87.
CAUTIONS: Redditch – Whitcombe 3 (hands); Rea 89 (foul on Whitman). Alfreton – Nwadike 45 (unsporting conduct); Clarke 50 (foul on Alsop); Barnard 90+2 (dissent).
ALFRETON MAN OF THE MATCH: Emeka Nwadike.