Alfreton Town Football Club

2008/2009 Season. Match no. 17. Blue Square Conference North
Tuesday, October 21st, 2008
ALFRETON TOWN 1, Gainsborough Trinity 4

ALFRETON Town suffered a second half collapse in Tuesday night’s local derby against Gainsborough Trinity at the Impact Arena.
Having led at the break through a Martin McIntosh 24th-minute goal, the Reds had first Matt Wilson and then Kris Bowler sent off, both for second yellows, and shipped four goals, three of them for Blues striker Simon Bird before Adam Smith completed Town’s misery.
Wilson was the first to be shown red in the 54th minute after which it all went pear shaped, Bird then firing a 10-minute hat-trick before Bowler’s red card cut the home side to nine.
Manager Nicky Law made just one change from the side which drew at Harrogate on Saturday, with McIntosh available to return to the heart of defence, Leo Fortune-West dropping to the bench and seeing no action.
Gainsborough were first to attack with Lewis McMahon feeding Smith down the left.His cross clipped Josh Law’s heel and Tom Evans needed two attempts to hold the ball.
In reply Ben Muirhead’s 20-yard effort was spilled by Trinity keeper Adam Sollitt, but Paul Clayton was caught offside as he tried to capitalise.
Evans had to scamper out of his goal in the eighth minute to gather as McMahon latched onto Tony Butler’s back pass that was then sliced by McIntosh.
McIntosh headed Smith’s whipped cross from the left for a corner when the visitors threatened again.
The Reds had a good chance to take an 18th minute lead. Tom Curtis’ long clearance put Danny Davidson in the clear but his hesitation let him down, then Law saw his shot blocked.
But six minutes later the home side did forge ahead. Ross Greenwood was booked for a foul on Muirhead. Law’s free kick was headed strongly towards his own net by Martin Drury and McIntosh, from almost under the bar, headed in. Referee James Hermuzi overruled a strangely raised offside flag and the goal stood.
It could have all been so different had the Reds doubled their advantage two minutes later, but Clayton slipped at the vital moment after Davidson had crossed from the right, and the weak finish was easily dealt with.
Clayton flashed a probing ball across the area in the 35th minute but no outstretched legs managed to connect.
At the other end McMahon ended a good move by shooting wide from 10 yards, then Wilson picked up a caution in the 39th minute for catching Bird as he looked to benefit from McMahon’s flick on.
Alfreteon had the last shot of the half when Sollitt held Clayton’s 30-yard daisy cutter on the line.
Within 20 seconds of the restart former Reds loanee Ryan Mallon cut in and rifled a shot just past the far post.
Another Law free kick, awarded after Trinity skipper Danny Anson was booked for fouling Bowler brought a McIntosh eight year header which hit the bar, but two minutes later it all changed.
Wilson fouled Smith, picked up his second yellow, and that was the end of his afternoon, Law dropping back to fill the gap in defence.
Clayton was halted by James Lukic’s strong challenge in the 56th minute, but Gainsborough sounded a warning a minute later.
The Blues won two corners in quick succession, the warning went unheeded, and on the hour the visitors were level.
It came from the free kick which earned Bowler his first booking of the match and his seventh of the season for a foul on Drury, Bird floating in a direct shot.
Within two minutes Evans had to make a flying save to deny Nick Ellis’ header, but from the ensuing corner Gainsborough went ahead. Ellis flicked on Smith’s flag kick for Bird to head in at the near post.
McIntosh was close to a 67th-minute equaliser with a 25-yard free kick which dipped just over the bar.
But the hill facing the home side turned into a mountain when, first, substitute Danny Mayman’s woeful back pass let in Bird who interchanged passes with McMahon before firing past Evans in the 70th minute, and then a minute later when they were cut to nine after Bowler received his second yellow for a challenge on McMahon deemed late by the referee.
Alfreton’s misery was complete in the 76th minute when Smith embarked on an unchecked run before rifling home from the edge of the box.
ALFRETON: Evans, Wilson, Brown, Butler, McIntosh, Curtis, Muirhead (Mayman 65), Bowler, Davidson (Hearn 67), Clayton (Cusworth 79), Law. Subs not used: Fortune-West, Sutcliffe.
GAINSBOROUGH: Sollitt, Greenwood, Drury, Ellis, Lukic, Anson (Davies 72), Mallon, McMahon (Newsham 80), Bird, Hall (Ross 86),Smith. Subs not used: Austin, Spafford.
REFEREE: James Hermuzi of Rotheham.
ATTENDANCE: 307.
GOALS: Alfreton - McIntosh 24. Gainsborough - Bird 60, 63, 70; Smith 76.
CAUTIONS: Alfreton - Wilson 39 (foul on Bird); Bowler 59 (foul on Drury); Brown 83 (foul on Mallon); Mayman 90 (foul on Smith); Curtis 90+6 (foul on Drury). Gainsborough - Greenwood 23 (foul on Muirhead); Anson 52 (foul on Bowler); Smith 90 (retaliation on Mayman).
SENT OFF: Alfreton - Wilson 54 (second caution foul on Smith); Bowler 71 (second caution, late challenge on McMahon).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Martin McIntosh.