2008/2009 Season. Match no. 46. Blue Square Conference North no. 35.
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

ALFRETON TOWN 2, Stafford Rangers 0

Match action pictures by Dave Purseglove here

ALFRETON Town cemented fifth place in the table and opened up a three point gap over their nearest play-off challengers after recording a third straight victory without conceding a goal on Tuesday night.
The win cemented a league double over Stafford in a week having won by the same scoreline at Marston Road the previous Tuesday and extended Alfreton’s unbeaten run to six games.
A goal in each half from Anton Brown secured the points and capped a fine performance from both him and another from the team.
By contrast, this was a ninth game without a win for Stafford who had top scorer David McNiven unavailable through injury, Tom Thorley away with Stoke City’s academy and Jake Moult missing through illness.
Manager Nickly Law had captain Tom Curtis available again after a two-game suspension but he resisted the urge to change a winning team apart from having to replace central defender Matt Wilson who was out with a bruised foot. Tony Butler returned to the side in his place.
The success was marred by two further injuries though with central defender Aden Flint and striker Liam Hearn both being forced off after trying to play on after treatment.
Flint was involved in a clash of heads as early as the third minute with Rangers debutant Tony Onokah, signed from Chasetown. Amazingly, Flint was knocked out whilst still on his feet and credit goes to the Stafford players who rushed to support the youngster and referee Mr England for stopping play immediately.
A dazed Flint had to be led off the field backwards before receiving attention from the club doctor but resumed two minutes later and he somehow scrambled the ball behind for a corner on eight minutes as Onokah sent in an effort on goal but the defensive interception was hardly a confident one.
After Flint’s withdrawal on 13 minutes, his replacement Kris Bowler dropped in at left back and Kyle McFadzean moved to partner Butler in the centre.
A minute later the Reds took the lead. From an Ian Ross corner, the ball ended up deep on the far side of the pitch at the feet of Simon Marples. His return pass left both Paul Clayton and Anton Brown free behind the Stafford defence and Brown slotted the ball past visiting keeper Tim Sandercombe from a narrow angle.
Barely seconds later the lead could have been doubled when Anthony Howell released Liam Hearn to the byline and he delivered a superb cross which was screwed wide of the target from close in by Josh Law.
On 31 minutes Brown got away down the left and from his cross Howell’s shot was blocked by Francis before Law fired the loose ball over the bar.
Four minutes further on and Hearn required treatment after being injured in a challenge with Andre Francis after the Reds striker had shown great persistence in tracking the Rangers man to try and win possession back.
Stafford also had chances of their own and Reds keeper Steve Dickinson had to punch clear twice to deal with late first half free kicks fired in by Chris Clements before Dickinson bravely dived at the feet of Onokah after he was almost sent in by a shrewd pass from Nick Amos.
The visitors thought they had equalised four minutes into the second half when Amos crashed the ball against the bar after Dickinson had parried a low header from Nick Wellecomme following a Clements corner.
But the Reds soon returned to the attack and it took a timely tackle from Pierpoint to stop Hearn from getting in on goal after he had latched onto Clayton’s through-ball. Then from a Marples throw in, Brown thumped in a byline cross which was met by a powerful header from Hearn and Sandercombe had to palm over the bar.
Rangers could have felt aggrieved that Brown was still on the pitch to add Alfreton’s second goal. The former Mansfield Town midfielder had been harshly cautioned on the hour for ‘diving’ before he went in strongly on keeper Sandercombe eight minutes later. Referee England opted for a stern talk to Brown rather than producing a second yellow card.
Hearn was taken off as a precaution by manager Law on 72 minutes, Jordan Hall replacing him.
The points were sealed on 76 minutes when Wellecomme lost possession in midfield and Brown ran onto a McFadzean pass before cutting in from the right and thumping home a 22-yard curling left-footed shot past Sandercombe and into the far corner of the net.
Whilst it was three more points and a third straight clean sheet for Steve Dickinson, there are much bigger challenges looming on the horizon.

Alfreton Town: Steve Dickinson, Simon Marples, Kyle McFadzean, Aden Flint (Kris Bowler, 13), Tony Butler, Ian Ross, Josh Law, Anton Brown, Paul Clayton, Liam Hearn (Jordan Hall 72), Anthony Howell.
Subs not used: Brian Cusworth, Tom Curtis, Kyle Sutcliffe.
Stafford Rangers: Tim Sandercombe, Andre Francis, Liam Murray, Tony Onokah (Jonathan Patrick 82), Wayne Daniel, Stuart Pierpoint, Chris Clements, Nick Amos, Mark Magee (Matt Buckham 67), Nick Wellecomme, Bobby Wilson.
Subs not used: Joe Rogers, Chris Brindley, Danny Allen.
Referee: Darren England of Barnsley.
Attendance: 415.
Goals: Alfreton Town - Anton Brown 14 and 76.
Cautions: Alfreton Town - Anton Brown (60, simulation); Kris Bowler (86, unsporting conduct). Stafford Rangers - Stuart Pierpoint (41, foul on Ian Ross); Liam Murray (73, foul on Anton Brown); Chris Clements (84, foul on Paul Clayton).
Reds man of the match: Anton Brown.