| 2007/2008 Season. Game no. 47. Blue Square Conference North
Easter Monday, March 24, 2008
Worcester City 1, ALFRETON TOWN 1
Report by Frank Bridges
ALFRETON came away from a lively contest at St George’s Lane with a deserved Easter Monday point which could and possibly should have been three.
It was the Reds’ fourth visit to Worcester, and their fourth draw at St George’s Lane.
City, who included former Reds favourites Ryan Clarke and Emeka Nwadike who skippered the home side, went in at half time a goal to the good through a John Munday flying header.
The Reds had much the better of the second half but only had a debut goal from the impressive Jordan Hall in the 75th minute to show for their domination, although Paul Clayton was desperately unlucky not to find the winner in the closing minutes of the game.
Hall made his debut having not signed from Buxton in time for Saturday’s game against Solihull, coming in for Kyle McFadzean, while Josh Law returned to the starting line-up for the absent Laurie Wilson.
City made the stronger opening,and Laurence Matthewson needed a good save from Craig Wilding following Danks’ fifth minute centre.
And when Wilding embarked on a strong goalward run he showed Matthewson too much of the ball and the keeper was able to gather.
Alfreton’s first chance came in the 11th minute, when Danny Reet glanced a header wide from an inviting cross by Law.
Nick Colley had the chance to punish the Reds two minutes later when he pounced onto Matthewson’s mis-hit clearance of Tony Butler’s back pass, but Colley could only aim wide from 25 yards.
Dank then fired wildly over the bar when he latched onto Butler’s hurried clearance on 19, but it was Reet who had the best chance of the first half only a minute later.
A well-worked build-up involving Kris Bowler, Steve Warne and Brian Cusworth led to a stifled shot from Reet, but he was instantly given a second bite of the cherry from only six yards. However, in trying to pick his spot he allowed keeper Cameron Belford a vital touch and, in a frantic melee, Law saw Carl Heeley clear his follow-up off the line.
Both keepers were then in saving action, but it was Worcester who forged into a 33rd-minute lead. Butler protested his innocence in vain after being penalised for a push, and when Danks drilled in the free kick it was met by Munday’s brilliant flying header which gave Matthewson no chance.
There was a potentially nasty moment nine minutes later when Cusworth barged into Belford while looking to profit from Bowler’s looping cross. Belford appeared to respond with a punch which went unpunished, although Cusworth was booked for retaliating to that.
In first half stoppage time Law went close following a neat one-two with Bowler, and Belford clutched Chris Walton’s punt forward at the second attempt as Reet challenged.
Twice in the first five minutes of the second half Reet had chances to equalise, but first his shot on the turn was well saved, then he blazed over after Walton’s long unchecked run forward.
The Reds came even closer in the 52nd minute when Law’s 25-yard free kick hit the top of the bar with referee Mr Sheffield unimpressed by Alfreton claims that the keeper had touched the ball onto the bar.
By this time it was Alfreton who were calling the shots, but Cusworth could only guide Reet’s cross wide at full stretch, and Belford blocked Reet’s well-struck angled drive.
A now rare City break saw Danks cutting in on a jinking run, but he could not keep his shot on target. And when Town hit back Reet set up Law for a measured shot, which brought a great diving save from the home keeper, Butler heading Bowler’s ensuing corner too high.
Then Bowler’s run into the area saw his finish come back off the keeper’s legs. It bounced to Cusworth but he was beyond the far post and could not keep it in.
However, the goal Alfreton so richly deserved arrived in the 75th minute. Warne spotted and supplied Hall in acres of space 10 yards inside the Worcester half in centre field. Hall advanced a few paces before letting rip with a 30-yard bullet that Belford had covered but allowed to squirm through his hands.
It was still a great goal, and one which would have delighted that Alfreton legend of the same initials from times past, John Harrison.
And the Reds almost won it in the 88th minute. Walton set up substitute Paul Clayton for a piledriver that Belford could only parry. The ball rebounded to Clayton who was only denied by Heeley’s line clearance.
And there was one more half-chance three minutes into stoppage time, when Clayton hit the side-netting after being teed up by Butler.
WORCESTER: Belford, Clarke, Khan, Heeley, Munday, Walker, Colley, Nwadike, Dinsmore, Wilding, Danks (Burtoft 79).
ALFRETON: Matthewson, Hall, Barnard, Walton, Butler, M. Wilson, Law (Glass 87), Warne, Cusworth (Clayton 72), Reet, Bowler. Subs not used: St Juste, Gray.
REFEREE: Alan Sheffield of Walsall.
ATTENDANCE: 669.
GOALS: Worcester – Munday 33. Alfreeton – Hall 75.
CAUTION: Alfreton – Cusworth 42 (retaliation on Belford).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Jordan Hall.
| 