2006/2007 season Match no.13 - FA Cup, sponsored by e.on
Second Qualifying Round Replay
Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006
, ALFRETON TOWN 1, Solihull Borough 3, after extra time

Pics by Phil Lucic.

TWO extra-time strikes sent Alfreton Town crashing out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle in their home replay with  Solihull Borough on Tuesday night.
And to crown their miserable night the Reds had Lee Featherstone stretchered off in a neck brace in extra time after he fell awkwardly following a clash of heads with team mate Steve Melton which left him unconcious.
He was taken to hospital at the end of the game but, thankfully, nothing was broken.
Alfreton should have finished off the job at the first time of asking at Solihull on Saturday but missed good chances and gifted a goal to the West Midlanders, who play two levels below Gary Mills’ side.
But, after falling behind to Rory May’s 33rd minute opener on Tuesday, the Reds hit back through Emeka Nwadike 19 minutes from time to force that disastrous extra time sesssion.
The visitors made a bright start and Alfreton keeper Dale Roberts had to tip a fourth minute header from Loz Rawlings over from a Danny Collins corner.
That conceded another corner from which Richard Munday’s header struck the legs of Roberts.
The ball ran for the Reds and they broke quickly, a move ending with Anton Brown seeing his shot blocked.
Solihull keeper Tony Breedon also had to beat out a deep Mark Barnard cross under pressure from Jermaine Palmer.
Alfreton tried to take a grip with Tristram Whitman putting in some dangerous crosses and also seeing a 20 yard shot go just over after a great crossfield pas from Nwadike had picked him out.
Ryan Clarke headed just over from a Marcus Ebdon corner and Ebdon sent a free kick well over from the edge of the box.
Another Whitman cross saw a glancing header pass just wide from Featherstone.
But, although under pressure, Solihull sounded a couple of warnings as May headed narrowly wide from a Jamie Petty corner and, two minutes later, Delton Francis saw his shot blocked for a corner from which May got in a header that forced a second corner.
And from that 33rd minute flag kick Solihull grabbed the lead.
Petty’s corner found May who saw his first header blocked by the packed defenders but was allowedto get in another header that found the net off the crossbar.
A 20 yard Francis shot was comfortably held by Roberts.
But Alfreton almost went in level when Clarke got a tremendous 25 yard volley on target three minutes from the break, forcing the keeper to tip round.
The Reds dominated the start of the second half and Clarke won a free kick which was taken by Ebdon and found Brown whose header lacked power and was comfortably held.
On 58 minutes a good, strong run by Clarke saw him hacked down by Ian Wood, who was cautioned, and Barnard’s free kick was goalbound and forced Breedon to tip over.
Brown headed over from the resulting Ebdon corner and, soon after, Phil Rowe turned a Featherstone cross behind before it could reach Ebdon.
Solihull threatened briefly when May went on a strong run but it petered out when he should have passed.
The Reds continued their pressure and Petty fired wide from 25 yards while twice in a minute Andy Tiday cut in from the right but sent angled drives wide. Tiday was off target again soon after with a curling effort from Whitman’s pass.
But home keeper Roberts did well on 70 minutes to hold onto a Petty shot that had taken a deflection off Clarke.
A minute later and Alfreton were level at last. Featherstone crossed from the right and Nwadike clattered into keeper Breedon which took him out of position. No foul was given and Tiday put the ball back across for Nwadike to head home.
The equaliser sparked Solihull back into life and they finished the stronger as Steven Ruck crashed a free kick wide, Roberts held a tremendous 20 yard May shot and, two minutes from time, Mark Turner produced a great tackle to deny Collins.
May headed wide from Ruck’s free kick as Solihull also began extra time strongly.
And they regained their lead in the 98th minute as keeper Breedon’s long kick was helped on by May for sub Aaron Farrall to fire home from just inside the box- the fourth time in four cup ties he had come off the bench to score.
Melton saw his header from Brown’s free kick held by the keeper before the break.
The disastrous second period of extra time saw a six minute stoppage while the stricken Featherstone was tended to and carried away.
Then Tiday struck the foot of a post from 20 yards with three minutes remaning and Whitman sent the rebound off target.
The gangling May finally sealed Alfreton’s fate in stoppage time as he danced past three defenders to plant a smart finish past Roberts.
ALFRETON: Roberts, Clarke, Barnard, Sucharewycz, Turner, Brown (Tiday 59), Nwadike, Ebdon (Burbeary 63), Palmer (Melton 69), Whitman, Featherstone. Subs not used: Glass, Mitchell.
SOLIHULL: Breedon, Moran, Ruck, Rowe, Wood, Munday, Francis, Collins (Mowl start of extra-time), May (Griffin 120), Rawlings, Petty (Farrall 55). Subs not used: Crawford, Alborough.
REFEREE: Mr S. Burt of Northampton.
ATTENDANCE: 229.
CAUTIONS: Solihull - Wood 58 (foul on Clarke), Munday 82 (foul on Burbeary).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Ryan Clarke.