2006/2007 Season. Match no.43 - Conference North
Saturday, April 7th, 2007
Workington 1, ALFRETON TOWN 1

ALFRETON achieved a well earned point at play-off chasing Workington with a resolute, hard-working performance at Borough Park on Saturday.
But Marcus Ebdon’s side could have had more to celebrate on the long journey home, either side could have won it in the second half.
Ebdon himself was happy to accentuate the positive, saying: “It was a great result – the boys worked their socks off.
“Mark Rawle had a couple of first half chances that on another day he might have put away, and Tristram Whitman was thwarted by the keeper late on. But everyone was a different class, especially after 4½ hours on the coach.”
Ebdon also had a word of praise for youngster Callum Flanagan who was thrown into the mix when skipper Emeka Nwadike failed a late fitness test after tweaking a hamstring in training.
“The lad did absolutely superbly, as did all the team,” added the manager.
Alfreton grabbed a 22nd minute lead from the penalty spot through Ashley Burbeary, but the Cumbrians cancelled that out three minutes before the break.
Matt Glass and Whitman both got in good early crosses as Alfreton started positively, but Tommy Hannigan and Ryan Laight both received stern lectures from referee Mr Webb for over-enthusiastic challenges.
Joe Kendrick’s free kick resulting from the second of those saw Derek Townsley’s rasper tipped over at full stretch by Dale Roberts, who again saved well from Townsley after the ensuing corner was only half cleared.
Rawle was involved in a couple of Alfreton attacks, and had a great chance in the 17th minute when his well timed run onto Ryan Clarke’s through ball beat the offside. However, an unlucky bobble frustrated the striker who could only scoop the ball weakly into Adam Collin’s arms.
But the deadlock was broken in Alfreton’s favour five minutes later. Kyle May tripped Burbeary in the area as Whitman tried to tee him up, and Burbeary sent Collin the wrong way from the penalty spot.
However, Burbeary’s celebrations were cut short by a yellow card for running to the supporters.
Collin had to charge out of his area shortly afterwards to head clear as Rawle played Matt Glass through, and then the home keeper pulled off a stunning one-handed save to deny Glass, who headed the subsequent corner just past the far post.
Laight was somewhat fortunate to see only yellow for felling Wayne Gordon who was clear on goal in the 35th minute with the home crowd baying for red – not without some justification.
But the home side forged an equaliser three minutes before the break. Burbeary blocked David Hewson’s shot amid loud claims for hands, but the Town defence failed to clear and Darren Edmondson lashed it home from some 10 yards out.
Workington carried the game to Alfreton for 25 minutes after the break, and the visitors breathed again when Graham Antony completely miskicked after good work by Gordon.
May headed wide and Roberts held Antony’s 25-yard drive well.
Steve Birks was guilty of trying to walk the ball in for the home side in the 65th minute and saw his delayed shot parried, then a minute later Edmondson headed wide from a corner when the chance seemed easier than his goal.
Hewson also headed over from eight yards following Edmondson’s tee-up, and it was not until the 75th minute that Alfreton mounted a real second half threat, when Whitman fed Glass through and the youngster brought a fine save out of Collin.
Birks was unlucky with a 12-yard overhead effort which just cleared Roberts’ bar following a neat interchange between Hewson and Antony.
But Alfreton could have snatched all three points a minute from time when Rawle crossed for Whitman who looked certain to score until Collin pulled off a magnificent point blank save.
WORKINGTON: Collin, Gray, Kendrick, May, Edmondson, Hewson, Antony, Birks, Gordon, Townsley (Nicholson 74), Wright (Rowntree 79). Subs not used: Gullen, Douglas, Summersgill.
ALFRETON: Roberts, Clarke, Brown, Hanigan, Laight, Ebdon, Burbeary, Flanagan, Glass, Rawle, Whitman. Subs not used: Reeves, Winder, Scoffham, Harcourt, Large.
REFEREE: D. Webb of Stanley, Co Durham.
ATTENDANCE: 725.
GOALS: Workington – Edmondson 42. Alfreton – Burbeary 22 pen.
CAUTIONS: Alfreton – Burbeary 22 (excessive goal celebration); Laight 35 (‘professional’ foul on Gordon); Rawle 45+1 (foul on Gray).
ALFRETON MAN OF THE MATCH: Matt Glass.