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Alfreton Town 2 Droylsden 3

8/10/2008

DROYLSDEN inflicted Town’s first home defeat of the season with this impressive away victory against one of the league’s form teams, but had to do so with only ten men for the final 35 minutes.

The villain for Droylsden was Steve Pickford, who was shown his second yellow card for his second late challenge early in the second half, and he can have no complaints about the decision.

At that point, the scores were level at 1-1, with Carl Lamb giving the visitors an early lead after just three minutes.

Kevin Townson’s right-wing cross was deflected by a defender and struck the far post, the ball falling kindly to Lamb who could not miss from two yards out.

The Bloods failed to hold the lead though, with Alfreton back on level terms after 15 minutes.

Liam Hearn found himself through in the inside left channel, and with Liam Brownhill and Craig Mawson on different wavelengths, he took advantage to stab past the Droylsden ‘keeper and into the unguarded net.

Lamb appeared to be struggling with an injury, so he was replaced at half-time by Domaine Rouse, with the on-loan Bury striker full of running in the second half.

However, Droylsden’s task became more difficult following Pickford’s dismissal, and Alfreton looked to be coasting after 68 minutes when Danny Davidson put them into the lead for the first time.

It was unlucky for Mawson, who saved his first attempt, but the rebound went straight to the Alfreton winger, who made no mistake second time around.

It looked curtains for Dave Pace’s men at that point, but with the home side not really making their man advantage count, with Mawson having little more to do, Rouse continued to run at the home defence, and the possibility of getting something from the game looked more likely.

Alfreton failed to fully clear a free-kick, with the ball falling to Rouse on the edge of the box, who turned to catch the ball on the half-volley and smash it past Evans on 79 minutes.

Many would have taken a point at that juncture, but Townson had other ideas.

Just four minutes later, slack defending left the diminutive forward sneaking into the home penalty box as quiet as a mouse to turn the ball past the bemused Evans for the winner, to give Dave Pace a huge smile as he left the pitch applauding the sizeable away following in the stands.