2009/2010 Season. Match no. 11. Blue Square Conference North match no. 11.
Saturday, September 19th, 2009

Alfreton Town 3, Stalybridge Celtic 5

Match pictures album by Bill Wheatcroft here and by Dave Purseglove here

ALFRETON Town were on the wrong end of an eight-goal thriller at the Impact Arena on Saturday as they conceded five goals at home for the first time since losing 7-1 to Ashton United in October 1998.
And it was not the first time that the Reds had scored three times against Stalybridge Celtic at home yet been on the losing side, as the visitors had won 4-3 in a Conference North encounter two seasons ago.
The defeat ended Alfreton's four match unbeaten run in the league this season and was a first league defeat at home since January 3 when Gateshead won 3-1.
Defensive lapses were the key to this defeat because Alfreton racked up their usual quantity of chances, and apart from the goals they struck the woodwork three times and were denied by seven quality saves from Celtic keeper Paul Phillips.
Anthony Howell gave the Reds a 13th minute lead when he slotted home from eight yards after Dominic Roma's cross from the by-line had reached Paul Clayton, but Phillips had already needed to pull off a point-blank save from Clayton's overhead kick from a fourth minute Matt Wilson cross.
Phillips then blocked Liam Hearn's shot with his legs on 19 minutes and three minutes later Clayton was only just off target with a back-post header from a Jordan Hall corner.
After a couple of wasted chances by Dave Hankin and Joe O'Neill as Stalybridge responded Craig Dootson was finally tested by a Keith Briggs free-kick in the 24th minute.
Briggs then fired over on 25 minutes and headed over ten minutes later, before a penetrating run by Hankin seconds later led to Matty Barlow scooping his clear chance high and wide as Alfreton found themselves on the back foot.
The equaliser arrived in the 38th minute when Warren Peyton lashed the ball past Dootson from 20 yards after both Flint and Hall had failed to clear a right-wing cross.
Then 90 seconds later Celtic were suddenly ahead as a cross from Hankin was again not dealt with and Barlow was able to score with a low drive from 15 yards that just evaded the outstretched Dootson.
Phillips held a shot from Hearn as the second half began, but nine minutes after the break Stalybridge extended their lead to 3-1 when O'Neill smashed the ball home after another Hankin cross had bobbled around the edge of the area for what seemed an age.
Anton Brown had to head clear two minutes later as Hankin cut in from the right and unleashed a strong drive, then Alfreton counter-acted with Howell and Flint both going close.
Hearn hit the foot of the post in the 67th minute after being put through by Howell and the Reds' perseverance was rewarded five minutes later when they reduced the deficit.
Hall's corner was initially headed against the crossbar by Flint and Hearn's header from the rebound was palmed on to the bar by Phillips, but Hearn stuck to his task and forced the loose ball over the line from close range.
An Ian Ross corner on 80 minutes saw Howell's powerful header scooped off the line by Steve Woods, then Howell headed over as Ross delivered the ball back to him.
Celtic's fourth goal two minutes later stemmed from a free-kick conceded by Kyle McFadzean in a dangerous area, swept home by O'Neill with the aid of his knees as Flint tried in vain to clear.
Alfreton kept pressing though and found Phillips in awesome form as the keeper somehow reached Howell's goal-bound header in the 84th minute before pulling off successive saves from Josh Law and Howell again moments later.
The visitors scored again in the 89th minute when another needless free-kick gave sub Craig Hobson the chance to sweep the ball in from Briggs' accurate delivery, but Andy Todd had the final word in added time with a sensational 40-yarder after Phillips had again blocked Hearn's shot.

ALFRETON TOWN: Craig Dootson, Matt Wilson, Kyle McFadzean, Aden Flint, Richard Pell (Josh Law 71), Dominic Roma (Andy Todd 59), Jordan Hall, Anton Brown, Paul Clayton (Ian Ross 78), Liam Hearn, Anthony Howell.
Substitutes not used: Mattie Burke, Paddy Gamble.
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC: Paul Phillips, Andy Smart, Graeme Law, Steve Woods, Warren Peyton, John Hardiker, Dave Hankin (Osebi Abadaki 90), Keith Briggs, Joe O'Neill, Matty Barlow (Craig Hobson 85), Connor Jennings (Michael Carr 78).
Substitutes not used: 12 Greg Wilkinson, Ryan Moss.
REFEREE: Christopher Akers of Doncaster.
ATTENDANCE: 537.
GOALS: Alfreton Town - Anthony Howell (13), Liam Hearn 72, Andy Todd 90+1. Stalybridge Celtic - Warren Peyton (38), Matty Barlow (39), Joe O'Neill (54 and 82), Craig Hobson (89).
BOOKINGS: Alfreton Town - Aden Flint (34, foul on Connor Jennings); Richard Pell (42, foul on Joe O'Neill); Anton Brown (72, foul on Keith Briggs); Kyle McFadzean (90+5 unsporting conduct). Stalybridge Celtic - Craig Hobson (90+4 dissent).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Matt Wilson.