Alfreton Town Football Club

2006/2007 season Match no.22 - Nationwide North
Saturday, December 2nd, 2006
Vauxhall Motors 1, ALFRETON TOWN 2

ALFRETON Town ended a way overdue wait for an away win in the league and triumphed over massive adversity in doing so.
Reds manager Gary Mills was without captain Marcus Ebdon and David Reeves who lengthened the injury list and he also had to do without Tristram Whitman, about to become a father.
His wafer-thin squad cut to the absolute bare bones, Mills played the entire 90 minutes himself, handed youngster Matt Glass a start and a four-strong bench was made up entirely of players from the Under-19s squad with Michael Harcourt, Callum Flanagan, Jonny Hirst and Lee Bingham making the trip.
The game heralded the end of Tommy Hannigan's impressive month long loan period from Notts County.
Alfreton also had to come from a goal behind against in-form Motors to gain a first three points on the road for over 15 months in Conference North, a staggering 28 games since a 3-2 win at Hyde United on August 29th, 2005.This victory against the odds made it three wins in the league in a row for Mills whose side climbed to 14th in the table as a result.
Last time the Reds were at Rivacre Park back in January, the fans received an apology from the Reds manager after a woeful display in a 3-1 defeat.
This time around it was hugely different with a great show of togetherness between the players and fans. At the final whistle the players huddled on the half-way line before running en masse and performing a spectacular diving 'Klinsmann style' celebration in front of the travelling fans who greatly appreciated the gesture.
Commenting on the differing fortunes between the two trips to the North West, Reds manager Mills commented: "We came here with a point to prove. We have asked the question can we win away after two home wins and every single lad gave everything today - as they have all season.
"It has been tough for the supporters but we are in this together and we've got to stick together and be proud of our football club.
"That's why the players wanted to show their appreciation at the end. Football is a game that can turn against you. We want to kick on now from those three wins.
"Unbeaten in eight games, Vauxhall began strongly and a shot from Lawless drifted just past the far post after a Thomas Rooney cross on four minutes.
In reply Matt Glass tried to chip the ball over left back Lee Dames but was penalised in doing so.Dale Roberts produced a tremendous double save on seven minutes, the first from Lee Furlong after a neat turn and shot and he then turned Rooney's follow up onto the roof of the net.
As Alfreton responded a great through ball from Anton Brown released Andy Tiday who sent Matt Glass in on goal but he was blocked by the keeper's legs. As the Reds rebuilt the attack Glass crossed from the byline but Mark Rawle's header went wide of the near post.
In the next visiting raid Joe McMahon had to stretch to head back to keeper Sean Lake as Emeka Nwadike tried to pick out Rawle.
Vauxhall stung the Reds by taking a 14th minute lead. A 35-yard free kick by Brian Moogan was parried by Roberts and Stuart Whittaker swept the loose ball home from close range.Alfreton hit straight back and a minute later were level.
After Roberts held a home corner, a long clearance saw two home defenders fail to cut it out and the ball ran through for Mark Rawle who finished in style from 15 yards for 1-1.
And the Reds then stunned their high riding hosts by taking the lead on 24 minutes. Ashley Burbeary won possession 30 yards out, fed Nwadike who slipped the ball through for Andy Tiday to net an angled drive.
Another route one clearance from Roberts a minute later saw Rawle head on and Tiday chipped the keeper but unfortunately just wide also.
Vauxhall hit back and Mike Garrity trundled a good chance wide before a Rooney shot from 18 yards was competently held by Roberts.
Tiday latched onto a loose ball 25 yards out but ballooned high and wide and the same player was then denied another chance when Stephen McNulty stuck out a leg to divert a Glass pass through to his keeper Lake.
It was the home keeper who was the busier at the start of the second half as well as he had to hurriedly run out to clear from the edge of his area as Nathan Winder almost got Rawle clear.Home full back Dames got away with a hand ball offence as Glass tried to go past him on the right before manager Mills curled a shot well over as the Reds continued to do well.
Mills then came to the Reds' rescue when a rare Ryan Clarke error allowed substitute Paul Addo to advance before being stopped by a timely tackle.
At this stage Vauxhall chances were few and Roberts comfortably held a 20-yarder from John Lawless although Addo then put a 12 yard header straight at the visiting keeper on 79 minutes.
The hosts went very close on 85 minutes when Dames saw his shot from the edge of the area miss the far post by inches although Mills deserves credit for doing enough to distract him.
Amid home protests that the referee had not allowed advantage in their own area, Andy Tiday latched onto a sloppy free kick and sprinted away before crossing for Rawle whose shot was blocked at source by substitute Alan Griffiths.
McMahon did have the ball in the Alfreton net with a minute to go of normal time but thankfully offside prevailed then Roberts plucked the ball off Addo's head from a useful right wing cross as the hosts tried in vain to prise a point from the Reds.
As it was Gary Mills’s side picked up three perhaps unexpected confidence boosting points and the fans were treated to a sight which hopefully will be repeated.