2004/05 - Match No. 34
Nationwide North
Tuesday, January 11th, 2005
Alfreton Town 0, Stafford Rangers 1
Report by Kev Miles
ALFRETON Town are still searching for their first goal, first points and first victory of 2005 after failing to use home advantage for the second game running, this time against a workmanlike Stafford side.
Throughout a lively game played in a bitterly cold blustery wind, there was almost an air of inevitability that an error would win a game between the two best defences in the division.
So it proved as Alfreton goalkeeper Lee Butler - so often the hero since joining the club - produced an uncharacteristic error to ‘hand’ the only goal of the game to the visitors on 46 minutes.
Stafford  player manager Phil Robinson’s 18-yard half volley could at best be described as speculative. Butler looked to have it covered and moved to make a routine save but he somehow allowed the ball to squirm through his hands and the ball found the net.
It would be wrong to blame the giant ‘keeper for the defeat though as he hardly had anything else to do throughout the game.
Indeed, there were only two other notable scares for him. One came from the boot of Reds defender Grant Brown whose attempted clearance ended with Butler having to save low down at the base of his right hand post on 31 minutes.
The second came on 54 when a Phoenix cross from the left fizzed through the six yard box with Neil Grayson inches away from making contact.
From that moment on the Reds poured forward and chalked up a corner count of 9-2 in their favour.
But, despite a concerted effort, they simply couldn’t prise open the division’s meanest defence which restricted the hosts to hopeful long balls into the heart of it, Town also not being allowed to get round the back of either full-back to vary the crosses into the area.
The Reds management shook up the side following the Hucknall Town defeat and handed Richard Cooper his first league start in midfield in place of Mitch Ward who was rested to the bench.
Loan spells for Gav Saxby and David Holmes had finished at Gresley Rovers but the latter wasn’t given a shirt at all despite failure to recover from injury by Matt Fisher and John Knapper.
Ryan Mallon also had to be content with a place on the bench - he being replaced by striker Peter Duffield who played wide right to accommodate two target men as Mark Sale made a rare start alongside Mick Godber.
The injured Carl Bradshaw was replaced at right-back by Ian Robinson and he was fortunate not to join the queue for the treatment room after a shamefully late challenge by Jamie Phoenix barely 15 seconds into the game.
That probably set the trend for the visitors whose steely determination to contest every ball produced a stop-start game full of free-kicks.
For all Alfreton’s possessional dominance in the last half hour, their best chances came in the first half.
From the free-kick for the foul on Ian Robinson, the Reds built an attack which ended with Sale’s shot bringing a fine diving save from Stuart Tomlinson just inside his right-hand post with only 50 seconds gone.
Sale then saw an 18-yard shot go just wide after he had shaken off Alfreton summer trialist Dennis Pearce on eight minutes.
Stafford had pacy wide players and a willingness to carry the ball but they too suffered from a lack of attacking options once the penalty area was reached.
Gibson was booked for the visitors for a foul on the busy Sale who then headed Bettney’s left flank cross inches wide.
At the other end Sale headed a Rangers free-kick away but only as far as Smith and his shot was well blocked by Brown.
Tomlinson produced a superb one-handed airborne save to keep out Bettney’s strike from a 35-yard free-kick and from the corner Blount’s header was tipped over by the visiting ‘keeper for a second unproductive flag-kick and half-time arrived goalless.
The only goal of the game then came out of the blue with Robinson’s shot on 46 minutes.
Alfreton’s injury worries grew on 52 minutes when Nwadike had to be helped off after twisting an ankle. He was replaced by Mitch Ward whose introduction to midfield brought a more varied range of passing but still the Reds couldn’t find a way through.
The decision to play top scorer Duffield deeper meant he hardly got a sniff of a chance anywhere in the area but he did have an effort blocked by Smith on 61 minutes.
The lively Phoenix was thankfully replaced by Craig Wilding for the visitors before Bettney’s right flank free-kick eluded everyone and bounced just past the far post as well.
The impressive and busy Ben Chapman got himself a yellow card for a foul on Gibson on 64 minutes before Duffield swept a Sale head down well wide when well placed.
Big penalty appeals went unrewarded when Duffield’s burst into the box ended with him appearing to be felled in mid flight.
Bettney was replaced by Mallon on 75 minutes but the focal point of the attack was then strangely switched to the other flank and it was quite a while before the substitute even saw the ball.
Stafford sent on Downes in place of Talbott before the last two Alfreton chances came and went.
Duffield fired in a 22-yard shot but straight at Tomlinson and it was the visiting ‘keeper who had the last say with a superb save at the base of his right-hand post to keep out Ward’s 25-yard strike from a direct free-kick.
The gamble to play three strikers didn’t come off. The management team now have to go back to the drawing board to revive their side’s fortunes if a play-off spot, never mind automatic promotion place, is to be achieved and all the good work of the first half of the season doesn’t go to waste.
MATCH STATS:
Alfreton Town: Butler, Robinson (I), Blount, Chapman, Brown, Cooper, Bettney (Mallon 75), Nwadike (Ward 52), Godber, Duffield, Sale.
Subs not used: Dolby, Teather, Woolley.
Stafford Rangers: Tomlinson, McAughtrie, Pearce, Smith, Daniel, Talbott (Downes 83), Robinson (P), Heath, Grayson, Phoenix (Wilding 62), Gibson.
Subs not used: Dodd, Edwards, Beale.
Referee: M C Dexter (Leicester)
Attendance: 355.
Goal: Phil Robinson (Stafford Rangers) 46 minutes.
Cautions: Alfreton Town - Ben Chapman (64, foul on Gibson). Stafford Rangers - Robin Gibson (12, foul on Sale); Craig Wilding (90, kicking ball away).
Reds man of the match: Ben Chapman.

MATCH STATS:
Alfreton Town: Butler, Robinson (I), Blount, Chapman, Brown, Cooper, Bettney (Mallon 75), Nwadike (Ward 52), Godber, Duffield, Sale.
Subs not used: Dolby, Teather, Woolley.
Stafford Rangers: Tomlinson, McAughtrie, Pearce, Smith, Daniel, Talbott (Downes 83), Robinson (P), Heath, Grayson, Phoenix (Wilding 62), Gibson.
Subs not used: Dodd, Edwards, Beale.
Referee: M C Dexter (Leicester)
Attendance: 355.
Goal: Phil Robinson (Stafford Rangers) 46 minutes.
Cautions: Alfreton Town - Ben Chapman (64, foul on Gibson). Stafford Rangers - Robin Gibson (12, foul on Sale); Craig Wilding (90, kicking ball away).
Reds man of the match: Ben Chapman.