2009/2010 Season. Pre-season friendly match no. 4.
Saturday, July 25th, 2009.

ALFRETON TOWN 3, Mansfield Town 0


Match pics by Dave Purseglove here

ALFRETON Town put in an impressive display as they recorded a convincing 3-0 home win over Conference Premier neighbours Mansfield Town.
Nicky Law’s side were in the ascendancy from start to finish and the Stags, who hadn’t conceded a goal in either of their opening two pre-season games, certainly could not argue with the final martin of defeat.
Mansfield manager David Holdsworth used the game to view some of his fringe players. He gave a start to trialist Ben Algar, a former Chesterfield left winger, and also handed former Stafford Rangers keeper Tim Sandercombe his first start.
Reds boss Law was without central defender Richard Pell, unavailable with a prior commitment, and striker Brian Cusworth, who missed the game through illness.
Josh Law fired Alfreton ahead on 17 minutes, Ian Ross doubled the advantage on 39 and Damien Reeves added the third on 63 to seal a sound, all-round display by the Reds.
Alfreton began well and former Stag Anthony Howell saw a second minute glancing header turned behind for a corner by Sandercombe. From the flag-kick, Ian Ross’s ball into the area sped across the face of goal with no-one able to finish it off.
A rare moment of danger for the hosts came a minute later when Ben Turner aimed a cross from the left towards Darryl Clare at the far post and it screwed off a home defender and out for a corner.
A Josh Law through ball on five minutes almost got Paul Clayton away but Stags defender Tom Naylor did well to get the ball behind for a corner from which Aden Flint sent a towering header just wide.
Alfreton went close again on 14 minutes when Law picked up a loose ball and advanced to fire just wide.
Three minutes later Law hit the target to put the Reds 1-0 up. His perseverance saw him win a block-tackle off Ben Turner on the right and after a really neat one-two with Liam Hearn, law fired home low inside Sandercombe’s near post from 12-yards.
Five minutes later Howell sent another glancing header flashing wide of the upright from a Dominic Roma cross.
As Mansfield tried to make some head way, a good turn and cross from latest signing Jason Bradley from the right was cut out by Ross.
Minutes later Flint did extremely well to get back and force the ball away for a corner as a deep cross from the right by Gary Silk looked to be heading for Bradley at the back post.
The Stags had a good chance to get on level terms on 38 minutes but after Darryl Clare had profited from gaining possession with the ball bouncing into his path off a home defender, Reds keeper Craig Dootson produced a tremendous block to keep his side ahead.
It proved a major turning point in the game for a minute later, another fortunate bounce of the ball, this time off a Mansfield defender, fell into the path of Ian Ross who pounced from ten yards to steer in Alfreton’s second goal.
And it was the Reds who went closest again before the interval whistle when Paul Clayton glanced a header just wide from a re-taken Ian Ross corner.
Six minutes into the second half a contentious offside decision robbed Liam Hearn of a chance of getting away after a delightful Law pass had looked to have got the front runner in on goal.
Alfreton’s purposeful attacking continued and after a Kyle McFadzean throw on the left, Hearn produced a determined run past several visiting players across the edge of the 18-yard area before he laid the ball back to Roma 35-yards out. His thunderbolt of a shot ended with Sandercombe just keeping it out.
And the Stags keeper was in action again a minute later when Hearn won possession from Luke Jones but then saw his angled lob held by Sandercombe.
The victory was assured on 63 minutes when a cross from Anthony Howell from almost on the corner flag picked out substitute Damien Reeves at the far post and the unmarked striker headed home for 3-0.
Naylor did well to head out for a corner as Roma tried to pick out Flint at the back post.
Mansfield substitute Karim Ibrahim couldn’t hit the target with a snap-shot from 22-yards on 81 minutes and a minute later the Stags’ last real chance to gain any scoreline credibility went when substitute Nick Langford’s shot from outside the penalty area was held by Dootson.
And it was Alfreton who finished strongly with Howell finally being outnumbered at the near post after being put through by a superb Ross pass before Mattie Burke’s shot was blocked after Flint had fed substitute Jordan Hall on the right.
This was another very pleasing pre-season outing for the Reds with more goals, a clean sheet and some very good football put together. The start of the season can’t come quickly enough now.