2007/2008 Season. Game no. 43. Blue Square Conference North
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Stalybridge Celtic 3, ALFRETON TOWN 1

Report by Frank Bridges

GOALS either side of half time at Bower Fold on Tuesday night effectively killed off any Alfreton hopes of building on Saturday’s return to form.
Steve Torpey gave hosts Stalybridge the lead inside the second minute, and Ashley Winn doubled Celtic’s advantage as the first half entered stoppage time.
Within three minutes of the restart Torpey, who played against the Reds for Farsley Celtic in the FA Trophy, scored a spectacular long range third goal which seemed to end the game as a contest.
But Kris Bowler got one back 12 minutes from time and the Reds had two good chances to pull it back after that, but were unable to capitalise.
Given Saturday’s success, manager Law said ‘same again’ apart from having a fifth substitute available in the fit again Kyle McFadzean, although there was no deputy keeper on the bench.
The Reds were chasing a match where the howling wind played a major part in only the second minute, when Torpey’s strong, direct run ended with a 20-yard shot low to Lawrence Matthewson’s right and into the bottom corner.
The remainder of the first quarter was more or less a non-event, although the Reds did force two quick corners in the 13th minute.
Alfreton picked up their game in the 20th minute with a flowing move involving Paul Clayton, Bowler and Steve Warne which brought no end product.
Matt Glass was prominent twice in quick succession with a neat dink into the area, when Paul Sykes just beat Clayton to it, and then a curling 22-yard shot just over the bar from Clayton’s lay-off.
Celtic threatened just after the half-hour when Matthewson had to be off his line positively to block from Chris Hall’s run and shot.
Josh Law aimed straight at home keeper Paddy Gamble from a Clayton centre, and when Clayton teed up Glass his edge of the box effort flew inches wide.
But the home side hit back towards the end of the half, with Anton Brown completing the clearance after Matthewson parried from Alex Meechan.
And they doubled their advantage as the first half moved into overtime. Torpey crossed from the right, and Winn hit it into the roof of the net from 16 yards.
Within three minutes of the restart it looked ‘game over’ as Torpey scored a memorable third goal for the home side.
Spotting Matthewson off his line, Torpey executed a brilliant lob over him and into the net from the half way line. It was no fluke, just a very well taken goal.
The troublesome Torpey had another 20-yard attempt saved only a minute later, and after Brown had misdirected Laurie Wilson’s far post cross off target, Matthewson was called upon again to hold Hall’s header onto Meechan’s centre.
Good work by Glass gave Warne a chance to reduce the deficit, but Gamble smothered the shot, before Matthewson saved well again to deny Hall following more creativity from Torpey.
However, the keeper was relieved in the 66th minute when he allowed James Dean to round him - fortunately there were no takers when he fed the ball into the goal area.
Laurie Wilson had a shot saved in the 72nd minute, before the Reds pulled one back six minutes later.
Warne’s shot was charged down, and the ball broke to Bowler who was able to pick his spot from 25 yards.
It looked at that stage to be only a consolation effort, and in the end that was just what it was.
But three minutes later a grandstand finish might have been set up.
Brown laid off to Laurie Wilson whose cross was met on the turn by Brian Cusworth. The substitute thumped the ball goalwards, but Gamble was equal to it and dived to turn it for a corner.
Then Law was only marginally off target after Glass saw his attempt blocked.
But Celtic could have had a fourth in the 89th minute, when substitute Lee Ellington cut in from the right and fired wide.
STALYBRIDGE: Gamble, Woolliscroft, Smart, Payne, Barwick (Garner 67), Sykes, Torpey, Winn, Hall (Ellington 67), Dean, Meechan (Barlow 80). Subs not used: Burke, Pearson.
ALFRETON: Matthewson, L. Wilson, Brown, Walton (Pacey 64), Butler, M. Wilson (McFadzean 64), Law, Bowler, Clayton (Cusworth 72), Glass, Warne. Subs not used: Barnard, Reet.
REFEREE: P. Bankes of Bootle.
ATTENDANCE: 403.
GOALS: Stalybridge - Torpey 2, 48; Winn 45. Alfreton - Bowler 78.
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Matt Glass.