Alfreton Town Football Club

2007/2008 Season. Setanta Shield, first round. Game no. 14
Tuesday, October 9th, 2007
ALFRETON TOWN 3, Hucknall Town 0

ALFRETON Town eased into the second round of the Setanta Shield - Conference League Cup in layman’s terms - and brought a welcome windfall of £1500 prize money for the club.
The win also earned a second round home tie against Hinckley United on Tuesday, November 13.
There was also the small matter of it being a moral victory for the new Reds against the old boys with four ex Reds in the ranks of Hucknall who are now managed by former Alfreton boss David Lloyd, he being assisted by John Knapper, another former Impact Arena favourite.
Returning in yellow were Ian Robinson, Gary Sucharewycz, Danny Mayman and goalkeeper Greg Smith.
Alfreton manager Nicky Law had to do without the services of Laurie Wilson, as part of the deal which brought the player to the Impact Arena from Watnall Road in the summer.
Chris Walton sat out the second of a three match suspension and Matt Wilson hadn’t quite recovered from a groin injury.
It certainly wasn’t a classic cup tie, more a case of more graft than craft, but both sides were desperate for a win to kick-start their season again.
However, a bright start brought the reward of a seventh minute goal for Alfreton as PETER KNOX smashed a loose ball home after Brian Cusworth had gone round keeper Greg Smith and seen his shot come back off a post.
A bruising battle ensued as the visitors fought hard to get a foothold in the game.
Gary Ricketts had the ball in the net on 14 minutes but the effort was ruled out for a foul in the build up.
Alfreton continued to provide the better moves and Sucharewycz somehow escaped a card of any sort when he clattered Kris Bowler as he looked set to break through after a lovely interchange of passes with Cusworth on the edge of the penalty area.
Bobby Wilson was booked for bringing Josh Law down from behind on 31 minutes and shortly after the Reds had to reshuffle when Mark Barnard exited with a recurrence of a calf injury.
Dave Cockerill replaced him and was soon conceding a corner after shutting out Bowling down the left. Lindley punched clear but was relieved when Danny Mayman could only side-foot a free chance straight at him as the ball was played back in.
Cusworth was injured after colliding with two Hucknall defenders and was then booked for fouling Sucharewycz in the incident.
One had to feel some sympathy for Danny Reet who had spent the majority of the first half stuck out on the left flank with little service. However, he came more into things in the second half.
Smith had to race out and hack clear from Cusworth as he threatened down the middle in the first minute of the second period.
Hucknall were then reduced to ten men when Rory Boulding was shown a straight red card for an off the ball incident as the players jockeyed for position on the edge of the home penalty area in anticipation of a Mayman free kick from the right.
As the visitors fought hard Ricketts did well to get a shot away in a packed area but could only find Lindley who then produced a reaction save with his legs to keep out a Paul Dempsey shot after Mayman’s cross had fallen into his path.
That was after Knox and Bowler had set up the unmarked Reet but his shot was straight at Greg Smith.
The battle became fiercer and Josh Law was booked for whacking Cullingworth before Matt Glass came on for Cusworth.
The introduction of Glass sparked Alfreton to raise the tempo and they doubled their advantage on 73 minutes when KRIS BOWLER rifled in a superb 25-yard left footed shot after Hucknall could only partially clear their lines.
Four minutes later the tie was all over when DANNY REET showed quick feet to create himself half a yard deep in the penalty area to clip the ball home.
Nikille Howell replaced the ineffective Ricketts for the visitors and Anton Brown had to stretch a leg to stop the substitute getting clear on the edge of the home area. Bobby Wilson headed the corner wide.
The latter stages saw Alfreton create more opportunities with Doxey firing straight at Smith from 20-yards and Josh Law going close from five yards further out.
Saunders was replaced by Ben Kistell for Hucknall and within seconds he volleyed a rare shot wide after Brown’s clearing header fell to him.
It was the last chance the visitors had and Alfreton afforded Under-19s prospect Jacob Walters-Lang his first team debut for the last few minutes.
Inexplicably, the official took no action against Kistell for almost cutting Josh Law in half on the far touchline and tempers frayed again in stoppage time when Reet caught Sucharewycz late.
A local derby victory, clean sheet and three goals, Reds fans couldn’t ask for much more.

Alfreton Town: James Lindley, Tommy Hannigan, Tommy Agus, Mark Barnard (Dave Cockerill 36), Anton Brown, Shaun Doxey, Josh Law, Kris Bowler, Brian Cusworth (Matt Glass 70), Peter Knox (Jacob Walters-Lang 85), Danny Reet. Subs not used: Kyle Sutcliffe, Chris Dodds.
Hucknall Town: Greg Smith, James Cullingsworth, Russell Cooke, Bobby Wilson, Gary Sucharewycz, Paul Dempsey, Danny Mayman, Ian Robinson, Gary Ricketts (Nikille Howell 77), Ben Saunders (Ben Kistell 83), Rory Boulding. Subs not used: Chris Timmons, Daniel Fletcher, Stephen Akers.
Referee: A J Madeley (Ossett).
Attendance: 187.
Goals: Alfreton - Knox (7), Bowler (73), Reet 77).
Yellow cards: Alfreton - Brian Cusworth (45, foul on Sucharewycz); Josh Law (foul on Cullingsworth 68). Hucknall - Bobby Wilson (31, foul on Law).
Sent off: Hucknall - Rory Boulding (50, off the ball incident).
Man of the match: Anton Brown.

Chris Dodds

Peter Knox

Josh Law

Jacob Walters-Lang

Jacob Walters-Lang (15) makes his Reds first team debut as he
replaces Peter Knox.

It was an unhappy return for Messrs David Lloyd (right) and
John Knapper. The former Reds pair are now in charge of
Hucknall Town.