Written by Alfreton Town FC’s media team

Reds forced to settle for a point in Farsley.

A disallowed goal and a missed penalty, as well as the intervention of the woodwork, left Alfreton Town with just a share of the spoils in the steaming cauldron of Farsley Celtic’s Citadal on Saturday (August 13).

It looked to all intents and purposes that Conor Branson had helped Tom Denton’s downward header over the line legally from Fraser Preston’s 41st minute corner, but the assistant referee’s raised flag ruled otherwise.

Then on the hour mark Adam Lund was upended in the box and Denton trusted with the spot-kick, but home keeper Max Dearnley was able to gather the ball without breaking any further sweat.

The temperature was uncomfortably hot for spectators, let alone those on the pitch, with the players grabbing the opportunity for drinks during both injury and organised hydration breaks – the fluidity of the game suffering as well as the participants.

Little wonder then that after a lively start, particularly from the visitors, the game suffered long patches of inactivity that were never going to qualify it as a classic.

Just 50 seconds had elapsed when Preston glanced a header over from a Branson cross, then on nine minutes a long Lund throw caused pin-ball ripples in the box with efforts from Dom Smith and Preston being scrambled clear from Denton’s stifled header.

Bailey Hobson’s pace had Farsley on the back foot when he squared to Dayle Southwell on 11 minutes, but somehow central defender Andy Butler managed to block the goalbound shot, then seconds later Hobson cut in from the left to see his low drive turned behind by Dearnley.

Jimmy Spencer (twice) and Adam Clayton went close as Celtic rallied, but both teams were becoming visibly weary when that flag curtailed goal celebrations for the Reds.

As the second half progressed Spencer fired over for the hosts before a promising move instigated by Lund sent Southwell scampering down the right flank – his astute cross saw Denton head back across goal for Hobson’s shot to be blocked.

After the penalty miss it was George Willis who was brought into action, dealing with efforts from Spencer and ex-Red Frank Mulhern, then two final thrusts by Alfreton could have brought them their first victory of the season.

With barely a minute left on the clock Hobson embarked on a withering run before unleashing a power drive that was well parried by Dearnley, then as added time loomed Dwayne Wiley’s header rebounded off the crossbar from another Lund throw before follow-up shots from Denton and Branson were blocked.