2009/2010 Season. Match no. 17. Blue Square North game no. 14.
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Alfreton Town 1, Gainsborough Trinity 0

Match pics by Dave Purseglove here

ALFRETON Town edged a tight Blue Square North encounter with Gainsborough Trinity at the Impact Arena on Tuesday night, where Anthony Howell's 66th minute goal separated the teams.
Nicky Law handed the captain's responsibility to Richard Pell with Kyle McFadzean serving a one-match ban, then the Reds' manager had to quickly re-shape his intended line-up when Liam Hearn was withdrawn during the warm up with a hamstring problem.
Paddy Gamble was the first of the keepers in action after just 3 minutes when he blocked a strong drive from Mark Greaves on the line from a right-wing corner.
In response on six minutes Pell headed wide from an Ian Ross corner, then eight minutes later at the other end former Alfreton midfielder Ashley Burbeary fired just over with a speculative 35 yarder.
Visiting keeper Phil Barnes pulled off an incredible save from Andy Todd at close range after Alan O'Hare had headed a Ross free-kick towards his own goal in the 16th minute, then seven minutes after that Paul Clayton should have scored when put through by Howell but hammered the ball against the bar with a clear sight of goal.
Darryn Stamp headed over for Trinity from a 25th minute corner, then 9 minutes later Gamble had to gather a low drive from Ryan Toulson from just outside the area.
Gamble also had to hold a Stamp header from a Burbeary free-kick in the 38th minute, then 60 seconds later Anton Brown's 25-yarder was clutched underneath the bar by a stretching Barnes.
Pell's downward header from Ross's 53rd minute corner bounced over the bar, then moments later when Nathan Peat slipped in possession Hearn's replacement Damian Reeves pounced to strike a firm shot inches wide.
Gamble parried a Mark Hudson effort from distance on 56 minutes, then in immediate response Barnes had to tip over a shot by Howell from the edge of the area.
As play once again swung from end to end Aden Flint produced a vital tackle to halt Luke Beckett's progress from a huge Barnes clearance in the 58th minute, then the Alfreton defender popped up at the other end moments later to glance a header wide from another Ross corner.
A long, raking run from Todd ended with an angled drive finding the side-netting, but the Reds led 3 minutes later when Barnes fumbled a deep Ross free-kick after Pell had been clattered by Beckett on the half-way line.
The ball was partially cleared but fell to Howell just inside the area, and he wasted no time in drilling a low drive into the net to draw level with Hearn as leading scorer for Alfreton with his eighth goal of the season.
Toulson then embarked on a strong run for Gainsborough in the 79th minute but blazed over from a good position, then three minutes later Barnes had to guide an awkward Ross free-kick away from the near post after it had curled around the wall.
Gamble's save in the 87th minute was the final notable action after a swift break had led to Beckett's angled drive that consigned Brian Little's Trinity to a sixth straight game without a win..

Alfreton Town: Paddy Gamble, Matt Wilson, Andy Todd, Aden Flint, Richard Pell, Ian Ross (Jordan Hall 90+1), Mattie Burke, Anton Brown, Paul Clayton, Damian Reeves (Josh Law 84), Anthony Howell.
Substitutes not used: Dominic Roma, Mark Dudley, Craig Dootson.
Gainsborough Trinity: Phil Barnes, Ryan Toulson, Nathan Peat, Mark Greaves (Neil Spafford 90+1), Alan O'Hare, James Hunt, Ashley Burbeary (Glynn Hurst 84), Luke Beckett, Darryn Stamp (Ryan Mallon 88), Mark Hudson, Darren Dunning.
Substitutes not used: Josh Davies, Ryan Semple.
Referee: Adrian Holmes of Wakefield.
Half-time: 0-0.
Attendance: 517.
Goal - Alfreton Town - Anthony Howell 66.
Bookings - Alfreton Town - None. Gainsborough Trinity James Hunt (36, foul on Damian Reeves), Ryan Toulson (foul on Anton Brown 87).
Reds man of the match: Anton Brown.