2009/2010 Season. Match no. 20. Blue Square North game no. 17.
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Alfreton Town 2, Ilkeston Town 0

Match pics by Dave Purseglove here

ALFRETON Town won the local bragging rights when they beat neighbours Ilkeston Town at the Impact  Arena on Tuesday night in the first League meeting between the clubs for 23 years.
 Back in March 1986 just 62 spectators had attended the Northern Counties East League encounter at the Town Ground as the Reds won 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Stuart Hibberd - almost 13 times as many were there on Tuesday night.
 Sustained early pressure from the Robins had to be dealt with, keeper Paddy Gamble producing a superb diving save to claw away a sharp drive from Sam Duncum after a through-ball from Amari Morgan-Smith had sent him on course for goal in the fourth minute.
 Several Ilkeston moves were rewarded only by a handful of corners and free-kicks, with an under-hit back-pass from loanee debutant Lloyd Kerry causing the biggest problem as Gary Ricketts almost latched on to it.
 Alfreton's first attack of note was a speedy run down the right flank by Andy Todd in the 24th minute, with his cross into the box having to be turned behind under pressure by Jake Beecroft.
Ilkeston survived two penalty appeals in the 26th minute as Damian Reeves and Anthony Howell were sent sprawling in separate incidents, the latter provoking the more vocal protests.
Three minutes after that, Reeves latched on to a through-ball from Kerry, forcing visiting keeper Dan Lowson to save, then from the resulting corner taken by Ian Ross a header from Aden Flint whistled over the bar.
A low drive from Reeves on 32 minutes was dealt with rather more comfortably by Lowson, then at the other end nine minutes later Duncum was sent clear by a superb ball from Paul Dempsey before firing from six yards with Flint and Kerry scrambling the ball off the line between them.
A deflected byline cross from Kerry in the 50th minute saw Dempsey almost slice the ball past his own keeper, then from the ensuing corner Paul Clayton headed over.
Alfreton edged in front on 56 minutes when Kyle McFadzean lofted a high ball through that was only partially cleared to Todd just outside the area - his shot was aimed with meticulous accuracy inside the near post as Lowson tried to recover his position, the keeper only able to help the ball into the net at full stretch.
Substitute Liam Hearn embarked on a byline run with Ross hammering his cross from eight yards with Lowson and Beecroft combining to clear in the 68th minute, then five minutes later Howell fired just wide from 18 yards after creating the opening himself.
 Former Reds' striker Jermaine Palmer headed over from Dan Holmes' 75th minute free-kick, then in response 60 seconds later Hearn's low angled drive was held at the near post by Lowson with a well-placed Clayton screaming for the pass.
 Hearn headed over from an 83rd minute Ross delivery, then three minutes later an interchange between Hearn and Todd led to Howell's stifled shot being saved.
Gamble had not seen much action since that opening spell from the Robins as he was protected by a home defence in which McFadzean and Aden Flint in particular were awesome,, but the Reds' keeper had to be alert in turning behind an awkward angled drive from wide left by Duncum in the 88th minute, but just a minute after that Alfreton were basking in a 2-0 lead.
 A brilliant 50 yard cross-field pass from Clayton sent Hearn on a run down the right and his measured cross behind the defence was whipped in from ten yards by Jordan Hall.
In added time Hearn was clear on goal before a well-timed tackle by Tom Bonner halted his progress.

Alfreton Town: Paddy Gamble, Matt Wilson (Jordan Hall, h/t), Andy Todd (Josh Law 89), Aden Flint, Richard Pell, Ian Ross, Kyle McFadzean, Lloyd Kerry, Paul Clayton, Damian Reeves (Liam Hearn 60), Anthony Howell.
Substitutes not used: Mattie Burke, Dominic Roma.
Ilkeston Town: Dan Lowson, Jake Beecroft, Tom Bonner, Neal Hooks (Dan Holmes 60), Luke Waterfall, Aaron Mitchell, Josh Burge (Jermaine Palmer 60), Paul Dempsey, Gary Ricketts, Amari Morgan-Smith, Sam Duncum.
Substitutes not used: Jack Watts, Liam Green, David Coombes.
Referee: David Lawrence of Barnsley.
Half-time: 0-0.
Attendance: 792.
Goals: Alfreton Town - Andy Todd 56, Jordan Hall 89.
Bookings: Alfreton Town - Aden Flint (retaliation, 13), Jordan Hall (foul on Sam Duncum 69). Ilkeston Town - Amari Morgan-Smith (retaliation 13), Neal Hooks (foul on Ross, 28), Josh Burge (54, foul on Paul Clayton),
Reds man of the match: Aden Flint.