2007/2008 Season. Blue Square Conference North. Game no. 10
Saturday, September 22nd, 2007
ALFRETON TOWN 3, Worcester City 1

Report by Gordon Foster (Mansfield CHAD). Pics by Phil Lucic.

ADMIRABLE Alfreton’s ten men picked up three priceless points off Worcester City in an afternoon of high drama at the Impact Arena on Saturday.
The Reds were controversially cut to 10 players with the game only 12 minutes old when referee Ian Knee dismissed Chris Walton.
By then Kris Bowler’s first goal for the club had put the Reds into the lead, and although Craig Wilding equalised, a double from Brian Cusworth – the second a ‘goal of the season’ candidate – gave Alfreton a 3-1 interval advantage.
The home side then rode Worcester’s early second half pressure and, as it failed to pay off, the visitors’ heads were allowed to drop, and a famous victory never looked like being surrendered.
Alfreton began the brighter, with David Cockerill twice going close before the Reds surged into a fifth minute lead. Laurie Wilson played an astute ball forward which Cusworth headed down for Bowler to break his duck for the season with a crisp low drive.
For the second week in succession the visiting side brought two former Reds favourites back to the Impact, in City’s case Ryan Clarke and Emeka Nwadike, and Nwadike became involved in the incident which led to Walton’s 12^th-minute dismissal.
Walton certainly fouled George Clegg who reacted angrily and was booked for his retaliation. But in the ensuing mini-brawl Nwadike needlessly became involved and appeared at one stage to throw a punch. That went unpunished when he could easily have been dismissed, but Mr Knee astounded players and supporters of both sides by then showing a straight red card to Walton.
It was not the first time this particular official had been involved in controversy with Alfreton – he it was who unforgettably awarded a goal to Altrincham after the ball had rebounded back into play off the advertising boards behind the goal at Moss Lane a few years ago.
The card colour was harsh, and could have spoiled the game in the early stages. But instead it served only to galvanise Alfreton, and when the immaculate Laurie Wilson’s free kick was met by his namesake Matt’s head almost under the bar the finish was too high.
However, the home fans must have feared the worst in the 23^rd minute when Matt Wilson conceded a 23-yard free kick in a central position in the 23^rd minute, and Wilding’s direct shot flew into the top right hand corner of Kyle Sutcliffe’s net.
They need not have worried. Big hearts were needed, and big hearts came to the fore – none more so than that of powerful striker Cusworth. And, shortly after Danny Reet had had a shot blocked, Cusworth restored the Reds’ lead in the 29^th minute.
It began with a promising run from Bowler who squared for Reet. The on-loan Mansfield forward played a delightful lay-of, and Cusworth swivelled to hit his fourth goal of the season, but his first with his feet.
City keeper Daniel McDonnell had his work cut out to hack clear of Reet only a minute later, but there was not a thing he could do about Cusworth’s fabulous second goal and the Reds’ third.
Indeed the only thing missing was the television camera to record it for posterity.
Laurie Wilson floated over a deep free kick from the right, and Cusworth somehow threw himself backwards feet first to execute a quite superb acrobatic volley.
One could almost hear the immortal words of John Motson – ‘Oh! I say!!’
Reet had a half chance to extend the lead still further just before the break when sent on a run by Cusworth but, policed by City skipper Chris Smith, he could only hit the side netting.
Worcester manager Andy Preece neither pulled any punches nor turned down the volume in the dressing room at half time, and sent on Mark Danks for Clegg.
The visitors needed to make an early inroad into the deficit, but at the same time Alfreton knew that the longer they could keep them out the more frustrated they would become.
Clarke was prominent with a number of trademark overlapping forward runs remembered so fondly by Town fans, and after Sutcliffe had smothered a through ball at the feet of Wilding, the ex-Reds full back saw a shot rebound off two home players and into Sutcliffe’s arms.
Mark Barnard cut out a dangerous cross from Adam Webster, and Clarke was too high with another effort. And when Laurie Wilson brilliantly dealt with another cross from Clarke and drew loud applause for his efforts, he broke away, only to see his cross aimed for Cusworth cut out by Smith.
With City’s efforts drying up Nwadike made way for Smith, and was given a rousing rendition by the Reds fans of his own personal ‘Emeka’ song to the tune of ‘Volare’ as he left.
But an even more rousing acclamation came for the heroic Cusworth when he made way for Scott Rickards for the final 19 minutes, having given his all.
City did fashion a clear cut chance in the 75^th minute, which would have set up a grandstand finish, but Peter Doran clipped over a cross from Danks with the goal seemingly at his mercy.
And when Laurie Wilson miscued a clearance which seemed to be looping into his own net eight minutes later after intercepting from Webster, he recovered to get back and clear it off the line.
Sutcliffe tipped Doran’s long range attempt over his bar in the fourth minute of stoppage time, but by then it was academic. The points, and a memorable victory, were in the bag.
ALFRETON: Sutcliffe, L. Wilson, Barnard, M. Wilson, Doxey, Brown, Cockerill (Hannigan 86), Walton, Cusworth (Rickards 71), Reet, Bowler. Subs not used: Ellis, Lindley.
WORCESTER: McDonnell, Doran, Barratt, Smith, Liburd (Wood 75), Clarke, Ward, Nwadike (Colley 68), Wilding, Webster, Clegg (Danks ht). Subs not used: Palmer, Gill.
REFEREE: Ian Knee of Wakefield.
ATTENDANCE: 306.
GOALS: Alfreton – Bowler 5; Cusworth 29, 35. Worcester – Wilding 23.
CAUTIONS: Worcester – Clegg 12 (retaliation on Walton).
SENT OFF: Alfreton – Walton 12 (violent conduct – foul on Clegg).

MAN OF THE MATCH: Brian Cusworth