Taking a look at County v Alfreton

ARE FIXTURE PLANNERS PSYCHIC?

With your forwards not hitting the target, players seemingly on an injury carousel, let alone 10 game suspensions, why is it the fixture planners always seem to find a nasty challenge to throw into the mix. Not only do Alfreton visit on the back of four consecutive wins, but County face a former 'keeper who is well regarded for his spell with the Hatters. Seems like the sort of scenario that has often brought the best out of County sides.

PAST MEETINGS

Alfreton visited EP in both our Conference National (National League) seasons. The games have not been goal feasts. On 17 December 2011 a 0-0 draw was battled out leaving County in the relegation places. The following August, County took a welcome early 3 points, with a 1-0 win on the opening day of the season.

Danny Hattersley( above) got the goal, the line-ups for those two games are shown below.

Saturday 17 December 2011
Blue Square Conference Premier

Stockport County (0) 0 Att. 2802
Alfreton Town (0) 0 Pos. 22

County: Matty Glennon, Joe Edwards, Andy Halls, Daniel O'Donnell, Danny M Rowe, Euan Holden (Cameron Darkwah), Chris Blackburn (Sam Sheridan), Carl Piergianni, Sean McConville, Tom Elliott, Joe Connor. Unused Subs: Aaron Cole, Kyle Brownhill, Ian Ormson

Alfreton T: Joe Day, Greg Young, Adam Quinn, Theo Streete, Josh Law, Jake Moult, Anton Brown, Sammy Chung, Nathan Jarman, Nathan Arnold, Anthony Wilson (Paul Clayton). Unused Sub(s): Darren Eadie, Levi Mackin, Jamie Mullan, Matt Wilson Ref. S Duncan

Saturday 11 August 2012
Blue Square Conference Premier

Stockport County (1) 1 (Hattersley) Att. 3448
Alfreton Town (0) 0 Pos. 6=

County: Ian Ormson, Andy Halls, Sean Newton, Joe Connor, Daniel O'Donnell, James Tunnicliffe, Alex Kenyon (Danny L Rowe), Danny Hattersley, Craig Hobson, Sam Sheridan (Danny Whitehead), John Nolan. Unused Subs: Jordan Fagbola, Lewis King, Carl Piergianni

Alfreton T: Phil Barnes, Josh Law, Connor Franklin, Darran Kempson, Daniel Bradley, Leigh Franks, Anton Brown (Paul Clayton), Simon Russell, Nathan Arnold, Lyseden Christie (Theo Streete), Ben Tomlinson (Tom Denton). Unused Subs: Danny Meadows, Adam Quinn Ref. R Joyce

CURRENT FORM

After a draw ridden start to the season, Alfreton have really hit form over recent weeks, recording those four consecutive victories. So, after seeing a succession of poor opposition sides at EP, County will face strong opponents on Saturday. Their W-D-L record matches County's , but a better goal difference leaves them two places higher in the table. The winning run came with victories over Gainsborough, Chorley (away), Hednesford and Worcester. In their other away games they drew at Bradford and Gloucester before losing at Solihull on 29 August, their last defeat.

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

As mentioned above, in goals for Alfreton Town in all but the first two games of the season is former County loanee Matt Duke. Matt played 3 games for County in the 2005-06 season after joining on loan from Hull City. Signed on the eve of the League season he took over form Jamie Spencer after warming the bench for the first four games. Matt stayed with the Humberside club until 2011, including two seasons in the top flight of English football. His most recent previous club were Northampton Town, but he is no stranger to non-league football with four seasons each at Matlock Town and Burton Albion earlier in his career .

Also in the Alfreton squad is a former County trainee ((pictured right at Manor Farm in Sue Cordon's photo), who spent two years in the youth team from July 2009. When released Ryan Wilson  joined his father at the fledgling Ilkeston team. He later left for a spell at a the top level of non-league football with Gateshead, before moving back to the midlands in the summer when he signed for Saturday's visitors. Another connection from County's past is striker Joe Ironside. The former Barnsley player is the son of ex-County goalkeeper Ian Ironside.

VISITOR'S SQUAD

Town have used just 19 players, nine of whom have hit the back of the net so far this season, although only the previously mentioned Ryan Wilson has started every game. Recent recruit Jordan Robertson( pictured below) has made a big impression.

The 27-year-old has scored in each of his three games since signing. That leaves him as joint-top scorer with Sam Jones.

Name	App.Gls	Pos	Known Past Clubs (may not be complete)
Tom Allan	9+0..2	D	York C, Hucknall T(L), Harrogate T(L), Gateshead
Sam Berry	6+0..0	CD	Derby Co, Mickleover Sp(L), Sheffield U, Welling U(L)
Dan Bradley	3+0..0	M
Nick Draper	2+0..0	G	Lincoln C, Sheffield(L), Inverness CT, Grimsby T
Matt Duke	8+0..0	G	Chesterfield, Matlock T, Sheffield U, Bury(L), Burton A, Hull C, COUNTY(L), Wycombe W(L), Derby Co(L) Bradford C, Northampton T(L) Northampton T
Stefan Galinski	6+0..0	CD	Derby Co, Corby T(L), Corby TL, to Stalybridge Cel(L), Boston U
Niall Heaton	9+1..0	CD	Bradford C, Liverpool, Bradford C, Ossett T(L), Bradford PA(L)
Joe Ironside	4+3..1	F	Sheffield U, FC Halifax T(L), Harrogate T(L), Scunthorpe U
Jamie Jackson	4+6..2	F	Chesterfield, Matlock T(L), Gainsborough Tr(L), Matlock T, Sheffield, Worksop T, Bradford PA, Worksop T(L), Belper T, Grantham T, Worksop T, FC Halifax T
John Johnston	6+2..1	W	Kidsgrove Ath, Leek T, Crewe Alex, Leek T(L), Alfreton T(L)
Sam Jones	9+0..3	M	Leeds U, Armthorpe, Australian clubs, Retford U, Heanor T
Todd Jordan	8+0..0	CD/M	Sheffield Wed, Worsbrough Bridge Ath, Staveley MW, Parkgate, Shirebrook T, Lincoln C, Stalybridge Cel(L), Buxton(L)
Joe Leesley	7+3..1	LB	Askern Villa, Winterton R, Parkgate, Matlock T
Cliff Moyo	9+0..0	RB	Stone Dom, Barrow, Northwich Vic(L), Droylsden(L), Newcastle T Market Drayton T, Witton A, Trafford, Nantwich T
Jason Paling	0+5..0	RB/M	Sheffield U, Stocksbridge PS(L)
Jordan Robertson	3+0..3	F	Sheffield U, Torquay U(L), Northampton T(L), Southampton(L), Dundee U(L), St Johnstone, Scunthorpe U, Global FC [phi], Gaz Metan Media? [rom], Bromley, Farnborough
Sam Smith	1+3..0	F	Handsworth FC, Ossett T, Parkgate, Worksop Parramore
Andi Thanoj	6+1..1	M	Grimsby T
Ryan Wilson	10+0..1	F	COUNTY, Ilkeston, Gateshead
Sam Smith	5+3..1	F	Cambridge U, Lincoln C, L Brackley T(L), Hereford U, AFC Telford U

PAST CONNECTIONS

Plenty of men on the list of those who have played first team football for County and Alfreton. Keeper Chris Marples, was bought from Chesterfield for £9,500 with County staring relegation to non-league football in the face. That was the first season of automatic relegation, back in March 1987. Chris followed old Chesterfield teammates in strikers Ernie Moss and Phil Brown, brought in by boss Colin Murphy in December. The three men made a major contribution to keeping County in the League after rescuing County from a near certain relegation. A bit of a character, Chris was apparently once warned by the police about his language after self-criticism for a particularly poor goal kick. His alleged response was, if you'd messed up a basic part of your job like that you'd be swearing. Chris finished his playing career with 28 games for Alfreton and later had a season as Assistant Manager at the club.

Midfielder David Frain had two spells at Alfreton in the years following his departure from Edgeley Park. A staple element of Danny Bergara's first County team, David was one of a rare breed of Hatters' men selected for a divisional select team of the season, at the end of annual PFA awards. His contribution was such that even after losing his first team place David could be seen encouraging and advising the younger players in reserve games. An attitude to reserve team football many experienced pros could have learnt from over the years.

A LOOK AT NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH

County's relative slump sees the side in their lowest spot so far - but with several other draws in mid-week they are still in a relatively decent position, if they can start finding the back of the net more regularly. Solihull suddenly don't seem as far clear at the top, having dropped points themselves last Saturday, however they were one of the side who did not feature in the mid-week games. Moors remain unbeaten, as do Tamworth, and the Solihull side are one of two  teams more than three points ahead of County, the other being next week's FA Cup opponents FC Fylde. Those teams within 3 points of the Hatters ahead of Saturday's games are:

				Home						Away					PT
Pos		Pl		W	D	L	F	A		W	D	L	F	A		GD	Pt
3	Harrogate T	10		3	1	1	9	6		3	0	2	7	3		7	19
4	Nuneaton T	10		3	2	1	8	5		2	1	1	5	4		4	18
5	Tamworth	10		2	2	0	5	3		2	4	0	8	6		4	18
6	North Ferriby U	10		2	3	0	9	2		2	2	1	12	10		9	17
7	Alfreton T	10		3	2	1	10	5		1	2	1	6	6		5	16
8	Chorley	10		2	0	3	7	6		3	1	1	8	9		0	16
9	COUNTY	10		1	3	1	4	6		3	1	1	7	5		0	16
10	FCU of Manchester	10		2	2	1	9	8		2	0	3	7	9		-1	14
11	Boston U	10		2	1	2	6	8		2	0	3	9	9		-2	13

In the chase to be the first man to double figures in the goal scoring charts Dayle Southwell of Boston United, and Brendan Howells of Harrogate Town lead the way with eight goals each. There have been 136 different scores - excluding own goals.

LANCASHIRE LEAGUES

Mixed news from outside the first team this week. The Academy side recorded a second victory of the season with a 2-1 win over Burscough's youngsters. For the reserves however there was a defeat at Buxton. But, they still have a chance to progress as this cup game was the first of two legs.

Ian Watts