Tuesday 11th January 2005
Alfreton Town 0 Stafford Rangers 1
Nationwide North
At: Impact Arena, North Street
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Programme: £2 (40 pages)
Attendance: 355
Weather: cold, windy
Duration: first-half: 46:31; second-half: 49:00
Stafford Rangers moved into the top half of the Conference North table thanks to a single goal victory at Alfreton Town. And it was player-manager Phil Robinson, on his first start since September, who scored the winner a minute after the restart.
With Craig Lovatt suspended, Robinson partnered Rob Heath in the centre of midfield with Lee Downes dropping to the bench. And the exciting Jamie Phoenix made his full debut and certainly made his presence felt before being replaced by Craig Wilding just past the hour mark.
Alfreton got the game underway attacking the far covered terrace end in the first half, up the slope and into the wind.
Not unsurprisingly for a game involving two of the meanest defences in the league, chances were restricted during the first half.
Stuart Tomlinson made a good save inside the first minute to push away a well-struck shot by Mick Godber.
With the strong wind and slope aiding Stafford in the first, Robin Gibson, Robinson and Neil Grayson all went close without testing Lee Butler. But the Alfreton keeper needed to be alert to keep out a miss-hit clearance from own defender Grant Brown.
Alfreton put Rangers under pressure during the latter stages of the first half. The giant Mark Sale sent a near-post free-header wide and Tomlinson kept the scores level with further fine saves from Chris Bettney and Mark Blount.
Rangers immediately got forward from the restart and scored what proved to be winner just over a minute into the second half. Rob Heath’s cross was partially cleared to Robinson on the edge of the area who volleyed towards goal. The shot should have been comfortably saved by Butler who let the ball slip through his hands and into the net.
The second half provided a lot more entertainment and on 54 minute, Phoenix burst down the left and drove the ball across the face of goal. Grayson, who had sprinted into the area, couldn’t quite get on the end.
Alfreton mounted a strong effort in the closing stages to salvaging a point. They pumped high balls forward towards giant 6’ 5” striker Mark Sale, nearly all of which were efficiently dealt with by the well-organised Stafford defence. Godber fired straight at Tomlinson, who also made a fine save in the closing stages to keep out Mitch Ward’s free-kick.
Rangers eventually got the ball into the Alfreton half and the experience of Robinson cleverly wound down the clock in injury time.
Alfreton Town (red/red/red): 1. Lee Butler, 2. Ian Robinson, 3. Mark Blount, 4. Ben Chapman, 5. Grant Brown (capt), 6.Richard Cooper, 7. Chris Bettney, 8. Emeka Nwadike, 9. Mick Godber, 10. Peter Duffield, 11. Mark Sale. Subs: 12. Mitch Ward (for Nwadike, 53), 14. Ryan Mallon (for Bettney, 75), 15. Chris Dolby Not used), 16. Paul Teather (not used), 17. Steve Woolley (not used).
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Stuart Tomlinson, 2. Craig McAughtrie, 3. Dennis Pearce, 4. Chris Smith, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 6. Nathan Talbott, 7. Phil Robinson, 8. Robert Heath, 9. Neil Grayson, 10. Jamie Phoenix, 11. Robin Gibson. Subs: 12. Craig Wilding (for Phoenix, 63), 14. Lee Downes (for Talbott, 84), 15. Alan Dodd (not used), 16. Danny Edwards (not used), 17. Richard Beale (not used).
Referee: M. C. Dexter (Leicester).
Goals:
0-1 Phil Robinson (47)
Cards:
Alfreton: Ben Chapman (YC, 65)
Stafford: Robin Gibson (YC, 12), Craig Wilding (YC, 90)
