Alfreton Town Football Club

2007/2008 Season. Blue Square Conference North. Game no. 3
Saturday, August 18th, 2007
ALFRETON TOWN 1, Southport 2

Pics by Phil Lucic.

ALFRETON were left still seeking their first point and propping up the division after falling to their third defeat of the new campaign to 100 per cent Southport at the Impact Arena on Saturday.
But the up side for Nicky Law’s men was another improved display which, if continued, should soon start to bring the points.
Unfortunately the Reds could barely have had a tougher start to the season, and with a trip to Gary Mills’ Tamworth and doubly relegated former League club Boston United at home over the Bank Holiday, they will have their work cut out to leave August on anything but a blank.
But statisticians at the club will certainly not panic, for the last time the Reds lost their first three matches it was in similar circumstances in 1983 when a new manager – Geoff Worth – had assembled a promising young team which then went on an eight-match unbeaten run.
The full-time professionals of Southport, it must be said, always looked capable of moving up a gear if required, despite Alfreton’s better showing.
The Reds had been frustrated before the match when it transpired that front man Daniel Douglas-Pringle had been involved in a road accident on the way to the ground, necessitating a change to the starting line-up. Fortunately, Pringle was uninjured.

Manager Law also introduced two more debutants with Matt Wilson and Greg Young, on loan from Halifax Town for a month, coming into central defence.
Nevertheless, Town had the better of the opening spell with Scott Rickards going close inside the first two minutes after a neat interchange of passes with Matt Outram.
And in the tenth minute the Sandgrounders had a real let-off when Mark Barnard’s 18-yard free kick deflected off Sean Newton in the defensive wall and rattled the bar.
So when the visitors grabbed a 13th-minute lead it was somewhat against the run of play – indeed it came from their first real attack of the match, as Neil Prince was allowed to cut in from the right and fire inside a post.
A minute later Barnard’s error let in Prince again to sprint clear, but this time he finished well wide.
That was a let-off, and Southport began to stamp some authority on the game, but when Liam Blakeman pounced on a misunderstanding between Terry Henshaw and Matt Wilson he could only drag his shot across the face of goal.
Henshaw’s action ended in the 31st minute following a head injury, causing a regroup at the back with Dave Cockreill coming onto the left of the back four and Barnard moving inside and Matt Wilson moving to right back.
The Reds put the loss of the former Burton Albion defender behind them and were level five minutes later. Visiting goalkeeper Richard Whiteside could only parry Rickards’ initial effort, and Matt Glass was on hand following up to finish at close range.
As the second half got under way James Lindley did well to smother the ball as Michael Powell tried to turn in a corner from Mark Duffy, then from another corner, this time by Prince, Kevin Lee put a clear header wide.
But ten minutes into the half Tony Gray was allowed far too much time and space, and turned to fire home from 12 yards following a cross from the right.
Within a minute Cockerill’s rising 30-yard screamer just cleared the bar denying the Reds a quick equaliser.
Prince should have extended the Sandgrounders’ lead on 68, but unmarked at the far post, he slid Duffy’s cross wide.
Again Alfreton might have pulled level as the game entered the last ten minutes. Chris Walton’s rising drive from 35 yards was tipped over the bar, and from the ensuing corner Chris Holland cleared Matt Wilson’s header off the line.
Then Anton Brown was unable to profit when Whiteside flapped at Laurie Wilson’s free kick, scooping the ball over at the far post.
But it was Southport who finished the stronger, with Prince just too high from 25 yards, Holland seeing a similar result after a strong run and, deep into stoppage time, Duffy’s angled drive parried by Lindley.
ALFRETON: Lindley, Henshaw (Cockerill 31), Barnard, M Wilson, Young, L Wilson, Glass, Walton, Rickards (Nangle 89), Outram (Ellis 61), Brown. Subs not used: Bowler, Green.
SOUTHPORT: Whiteside, Lever, Newton, Hocking, Lee, Holland, Duffy, Blakeman, Gray (Houghton 87), Powell, Prince. Subs not used: F Smith, Beeley, Noon, T Smith.
REFEREE: A M Newbold of Loughborough.
ATTENDANCE: 324.
GOALS: Alfreton – Glass 36. Southport – Prince 13; Gray 55,
CAUTIONS: Alfreton – Brown 70 (foul on Holland); Walton 71 (foul on Powell). Southport – Hocking 45 (foul on Rickards).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Matt Glass.