Match report – Southport 2-3 Alfreton Town

Posted by: Belinda Hargreaves

Mon 29th January 2024

Here’s the latest match report for Alfreton Town which is from Alfreton Football Club’s website.

Late winner from debutant secures dramatic win on the Road for the Reds
Two late goals snatched victory from the jaws of Defeat for Alfreton Town on Saturday (January 27) at Southport as the Reds stretched the unbeaten run to six matches in National League North.
New signing Gerry Mc Donagh who had signed on loan from Kidderminster Harriers until the end of the season just days prior to the fixture was the hero as his late winner right on 90 minutes turned the game on its head
The Reds made the more confident start of the two sides with debutant McDonagh putting himself about to really good effect in the opening stages of the contest.
On two minutes he picked out Perritt who in turn fed Fewster but his cross in to the area was blocked at source.
On four minutes the Sandgrounders had a penalty shout though when Walton played through to Luke Burgess who appeared to be caught by Harry Perritt but referee Lewis Dawson was unmoved.
Alfreton Town took the lead on 12 minutes when the in form Liam Waldock scored for the fifth straight game to take his season tally to 11. The effective McDonagh flicked on to Fewster who in turn picked out the red hot Waldock who stroked home past the keeper with a lovely crisp finish.
Ofton looked to be in control but a lapse in concentration from Kennedy Digie on 23 minutes as he misjudged a back pass presented Southport striker Marcus Carver with a guilt edged chance to equalize which he duly took to level proceedings at 1-1.
Alfreton didnt let the set back affect them as they continued to play some really good football with Perritt picking out Salmon with a superb pass who did well to win a corner on 36 minutes.
Fewster tested Port keeper Chris Renshaw on 44 but it was to be the hosts that went in to the half time interval in front as Billy Heath’s side uncharacteristically failed to deal with a corner with Carver grabbing his and Southport’s second with the last kick of the first half.
Jim Bentley’s Southport had a golden chance to extend their advantage five minutes in to the second half as the dangerous Carver carved out a 3-1 on one situation with Burgess laying the ball off for Tyler Walton who saw his shot go inches wide of the post.
Billy Heath introduced Jordan Thewlis and Jake Day from the bench into the fray in an attempt to get back in the contest. Port were still carrying a threat however with Flowers heading over the crossbar from a corner just past the hour.
A series of Adam Lund long throws caused havoc in the Southport penalty area but the ball never fell for the Reds with the Sandgrounders able to clear away the danger on each occasion.
With 15 minutes to play the Reds began to step up their efforts to get back in to the match. Nathan Newall delivered a great cross into the area with Kennedy Digie winning the first header and Adam Lund seeing his header easily saved by the Southport keeper Chris Renshaw.
To their credit the Reds continued to apply themselves in the search of a leveller and substitute Jake Day smashed home on 88 minutes to bring his season tally to 8 strikes to drag Ofton level. After another attack was repelled by the home defence the ever dependable George Cantrill did superbly to win possession and after Days first effort was blocked at source the ball ricocheted back in to the striker`s path and he made mistake with a sweetly struck strike.
Southport who had looked comfortable for large parts of the second half were shell shocked just minutes later when they found themselves behind as McDonagh was the hero in Red as his maiden goal for the club on his debut put Alfreton in front once again as the match entered six minutes of added time.
A long punt forward in to the area was not cleared by the Sandgrounders and with the ball bouncing around in the box McDonagh hooked the ball goalwards with the ball nestling in the back of the net after taking a slight deflection off a Port defender.
The drama was not done there however as substitute Josh Hmami clatted the post before there was a huge penalty appeal for the hosts with referee Dawson once again waiving play on with Southport captain David Morgan booked for his protests.
Billy Heath’s men held on though to take an unlikely win which moved them up to eighth place in the league table as they recorded a first league double over Port since the 2014/15 Vanarama Conference season.

ALFRETON: Willis, Lund, Digie, Cantrill, Waldock, Salmon,(Day 75) Perritt, Brisley (c), Fewster (Thewlis 51), Newall, McDonagh (Clackstone 90+2).Other subs: Wiley, Askew.

Attendance 864 (including 59 Alfreton supporters)

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