2005/06 season match No.43
Tuesday, March 14th, 2006
Nationwide North
Alfreton Town 1, Workington 3
Report by Gordon Foster (Mansfield CHAD) and Pics by Phil Lucic.

IF YOU are not averse to a flutter, then a few bob invested on Workington winning promotion to the Conference National at the end of next season could well be rewarded.
For on Tuesday night their severely weakened side put Alfreton to the sword with a performance as good as if not better than any seen at the Impact Arena this season.
The ‘other’ Reds had to turn to some of their youngsters to fill the gaps as they made the long midweek journey without six players who would have expected to be included in the starting line-up had they been able to travel.
But if these are the youngsters waiting in the wings, and they can reproduce this kind of performance on a regular basis, then the former Football League club are well on the way to advancing to within one division of regaining that status.
It really was a case of ‘out of adversity’ for the visitors who, as they made their 4½-hour coach journey south, could hardly have imagined that their small but hardy band of travelling fans would be rewarded with what the Cumbrians’ officials acclaimed as their best display of the season.
Their manager Tommy Cassidy was left with a dream of a problem. Workington were already an in-form side and had even thrashed promotion-chasing Northwich 5-2 recently.
But while Cassidy is pondering how he can possibly change that side, it was a humble Gary Mills who was left to reflect on Alfreton’s sickening thud back to earth after the euphoria of Saturday’s superb victory over leaders Stafford.
For, despite the benefit of a seventh-minute lead provided by Ryan Clarke’s superb headed goal, the home side were simply not at the races.
“We’ve just not performed, and they were head and shoulders above us - we just didn’t get going,” Mills admitted. “We looked a side who had been bottom of the league, which was very disappointing after our recent better results.
“I would have expected us to kick on after getting an early goal but they just pushed us back and deserved their win.”
There was no arguing with that. Workington played a swift and incisive passing game that often had the home side chasing shadows.
Matthew Berkely, a recent capture from Gretna, was a particular thorn in the side, having been unable to force his way into the Scottish League club’s free-scoring first team.
And when Alfreton did have the ball they were closed down so quickly that they never had the chance or the time to do anything constructive.
Two Alfreton players emerged with their heads held high.
Without some of the saves made by young keeper Simon Rayner the margin of defeat could have been a real embarrassment.
And Clarke was the only outfield player to show anything like his true form - although even the right back would not acknowledge afterwards that he, at least, had played well, despite hardly putting a foot wrong.
Raynor was at fault for the third goal, spilling the ball at the feet of Matt Henney - an error which cost him man of the match.
But he more than made up for that with a couple of brilliant one-on-one saves that he had no right to get anywhere near.
Workington had already sounded a warning before Alfreton took the lead. Chris Bettney was brought down near the right corner flag, he took the free kick himself, and Clarke showed spring heels to rise high and loop a delightful header past Adam Collin.
That was as good as it got for Alfreton, and any unknowing spectator would have thought it was they who had had less than an hour to get over a long coach journey as the enterprising visitors set about taking them apart.
Within five minutes they were deservedly level. Craig Johnson delivered a 30-yard free kick into the area, and it was Darren Edmondson who was credited with the final touch after the match.
Initially the goal had been given to Henney, and having that one chalked off his tally cost him his hat-trick, for he got the other two.
Workington deservedly surged ahead in the 22nd minute. Berkeley left Mark Turner for dead and saw his shot blocked, but the predatory Henney drilled home the rebound from the edge of the box.
The rest of the half saw Alfreton struggling to cope with the livewire visitors, although just before the break Jon Stevenson’s angled drive was well saved at the near post.
Mills withdrew Lewis Brooks for Emeka Nwadike at half time, in the hope that he could be the catalyst for an improved second half that he had been against Stafford.
“We tried to go three at the back, but Lee Featherstone was constantly being pushed back anyway and never got out as we wanted him to. We tried to change it, but it didn’t happen,” said Mills.
Workington continued to call the shots, and Rayner saved well from Henney and then denied both David Hewson and Graham Goulding with one-on-one saves, Berkeley hitting the follow-up from the first one wide.
And even the introduction of forwards Peter Duffield and Michael Rankine made no difference.
For 15 minutes from time Rayner spilled Berkeley’s 20-yard blockbuster and Henney was first to the rebound to put the outcome beyond doubt.
It might have been worse still, for four minutes later Berkeley cut in from the left and fired against the bar.
Had it gone in there could have been no complaints. Workington had been that good - and Alfreton had been that bad.
ALFRETON: Rayner, Clarke, Brooks (Nwadike ht), Robinson, Turner, Howard, Bettney, Fisher (Duffield 73), Godber (Rankine 73), Stevenson, Featherstone. Subs not used: Mills, Hume.
WORKINGTON: Collin, Hewson, Green, May, Edmondson, Henney, Goulding, Prosser, Johnson, Berkeley, Gordon. Subs not used: Arnison, Weaver, Rogers, Jewell, Summersgill.
REFEREE: Gary Chapman of Keighley.
ATTENDANCE: 257.
SCORERS: Alfreton - Clarke 7. Workington - Edmondson 12; Henney 22, 75.
CAUTION: Alfreton - Howard 88 (unsporting conduct).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Ryan Clarke.