Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 2 – 0 ALFRETON TOWN

Blue Square North – Saturday 7 March 2009

Report by Gary Owen

These were three hard-fought points for Droylsden, and Nicky Law will consider his side deserved something from this game from their day's work.

However, it was a fluke of a gaol that set the Bloods on their way mid-way through the second half, when Tony Gray was found by a great ball from Steve Pickford on the right flank. Gray made space for the cross, but the ball flew over Kyle Sutcliffe in the Alfreton goal and into the far corner.

That was the first incident which either set of fans had to cheer about, as the first half was a particularly dismal affair. Indeed, the only episode of note was when Pickford collided with Paul Clayton, and Mr. Knee waved play-on as Alfreton were on the attack. Droylsden won the ball back, and Mr. Knee blew-up, re-starting the game from a drop ball (not a free kick), with neither side knowing if they should take possession!

Town began well after the break, with Kris Bowler's volley from Sean Newton's headed clearance flying over Craig Mawson's bar off his weaker right foot.

Clayton, who had been a handful for Droylsden's centre backs all afternoon, won a header against Steve Halford to set Jordan Hall away, but Mawson saved his effort at the near post.

Then came Droylsden's bizarre opener, and Gray almost doubled his tally moments later from Brownhill's cross, but his shot at the second attempt skimmed off the bar.

Gray recorded another shot on goal, but his deflected effort was superbly turned away by Sutcliffe.

Droylsden made the points safe with six minutes remaining, when Neil Sorvel arrived late in the box to convert Brownhill's cross.

Jake Speight almost added some gloss to the scoreline when he exchanged passes with Pickford on the edge of the box, but his excellent curling effort was just inches away in the dying moments.

TEAMS:

Droylsden

Mawson, Brownhill, Newton, Ruffer, Halford, Sorvel, Pickford, McGuire (Morris, 87'), Gray (Prince, 81'), Speight, Townson (Lamb, 63').

Unused Subs: Cryan, Beck.

Alfreton Town

Sutcliffe, Bowler, McFadden, McIntosh, Flint, Curtis (Davidson, 86'), Hall (Muirhead, 79'), Brown, Clayton, Marples, Law (Cusworth, 74')

Unused Sub.: Evans.

Referee: Mr. I. D. Knee (Wakefield, West Yorkshire)

ATTENDANCE: 354