2007/2008 Season. Pre-season friendly no. 5
Saturday, July 28th, 2007
ALFRETON TOWN 1, Worksop Town 2

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

FORMER Alfreton manager Jason Maybury enjoyed a happy return to the Impact Arena on Saturday as his Worksop Town side secured a deserved win.Maybury took charge of the Tigers in the absence of new boss and another former Reds favourite Peter Rinkcavage, and must have been well pleased with their performance.
For Tigers fans in the disappointing crowd of 144, though, it was a mixture of emotions, for while they are always glad to put one over on their old rivals, they could also reflect that, had their relegated favourites played like this at the end of last season, their visit to Alfreton this term would have been for more meaningful Blue Square North points rather than just a friendly.
In contrast, it was probably Alfreton’s most disappointing pre-season performance so far, especially in a first half which Worksop dominated.A goal in each half put the Tigers well in command, and although the Reds did better after the interval, they had only a Matt Glass penalty to show in reply.
It remains to be seen, though, how close the starting line-up was to that which will kick off the season at Blyth in a fortnight’s time.
Worksop were first out of the traps and Mark Nangle, helping to defend Steve Hawes’ second minute free kick, had to head over his own bar to avert the danger, while at the other end Matt Outram got around the back on the left but sent his rising cross-drive over the bar.
Worksop’s Curtis Barnard, a close season capture from Farsley, went close after evading the attentions of Tommy Hannigan, and was then denied a clear shot at goal only by his Alfreton namesake Mark’s alertness following good work on the left by Steve Owens.
So it came as no surprise when the lively Worksop front man fired his side into a 15^th minute lead. The Reds defence failed to clear and, with James Lindley drawn off his line in a desperate bid to rescue the situation, Barnard was onto the ball in a flash to put it away.
Lindley did well to parry away Matty Caudwell’s vicious driven free kick three minutes later as Worksop sought to build on their advantage.
For Alfreton, Laurie Wilson and Glass, along with right back Russell Headley, were rising above the general lethargy, and Wilson brought a good save out of Lawrence Matthewson following a half-clearance of Glass’s probing cross.
And Nangle showed some neat footwork for a big man but then lifted his finish over the bar.
A sweet lay-off by Curtis Barnard gave Phil Rowlands the chance to double Worksop’s lead, however he volleyed wide from a good position.
But Nangle should have equalised right on half time with a near post header onto Chris Walton’s free kick, only to place it over the angle.
As expected, Reds boss Nicky Law rang the changes and sent five fresh faces on for the second half.
Worksop sent only two, but one of them, deputy keeper Andy Preece, lasted only three minutes before being hurt in a 50-50 clash with Andy White, meaning a quick return to the action for Matthewson.
The half began more evenly but when Worksop doubled their lead on 56 minutes even the home fans could only watch in admiration. Luke Staton’s central free kick was played wide right to former Reds man Steve Woolley who crossed deep to the left, from where Caudwell unleashed a scorching volley that fairly rocketed into the net.
White’s foraging caused Worksop some problems and he often found himself being held back by the Worksop defenders who generally were allowed to get away with it, but the big striker had three good chances in as many minutes just after the hour.
First he got too far underneath a cross from Scott Ellis and headed over, then seconds later he flashed a crisp low shot on the turn narrowly wide, before again heading over from close range from Laurie Wilson’s accurate centre.But when, on 67, White went up with Matthewson to challenge for Anton Brown’s looping cross he was pushed by the keeper.
This time Mr Cooke did see it, and Glass put away the perfect spot kick just inside Matthewson’s left hand post.
Matthewson made amends seconds later, saving Laurie Wilson’s well struck shot from distance, which might have brought the Reds level.Both sides had chances in the final ten minutes.
Kyle Jordan fired hurriedly wide at the back post from a corner, and another good strike by Laurie Wilson was well saved, as Worksop hung on for the victory that their performance over the 90 minutes deserved.
ALFRETON: Lindley, Headley (Henshaw ht), M. Barnard, Hannigan (Brown ht), M. Wilson, Walton (Cockerill 73), L. Wilson, Glass (Cusworth 81), Nangle (White ht), Douglas-Pringle (Ellis ht), Outram (Bowler ht).
WORKSOP: Matthewson (Preece ht, Matthewson 48), Nicholson, Davies, Hawes, Lowe, Dawson (Staton ht), Woolley (Zaccaria 81), Rowlands, C. Barnard (Jordan 70), Owens (Alder-Eaver 76), Caudwell.
REFEREE: Steve Cooke of Belper.
ATTENDANCE: 144.
GOALS: Alfreton – Glass 67 pen. Worksop – C. Barnard 15, Caudwell 56.

REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Laurie Wilson.