23rd August 2003

Attendance - 337

Team - Kearney, Williams(M Swales 46), S Swales, Reed, Hall(Hore 77), Linighan, Campbell, Gildea, Robinson, Ure, Veart(Johnson 45).

Report by Andrew Snaith Newly promoted Alfreton taught Whitby a harsh lesson at the Turnbull Ground on Saturday, as youngster Ryan France blasted a hat-trick.
The visitors brought a large band of followers to enjoy the Saturday sunshine and the excellent football from the in-form Derbyshire outfit. The Blues were without Ben Dixon who was unavailable, while Scott Nicholson was at the bedside of his pregnant girlfriend.
The match started in exciting fashion as Whitby’s Lee Ure raced down the right inside the first minute and put a testing low cross into the Alfreton six yard box but Butler collected under little pressure.
Moments later at the other end, Chris Bettney’s free-kick was hooked home by France from close range for the opening goal.
The visitors almost doubled their lead when Godber’s goal-bound drive was blocked by Alex Gildea on the Whitby line. Whitby had their best chance on 11 minutes when Ure’s determined run set up Graham Robinson whose powerful first time 20 yard volley flew over the Alfreton crossbar. Paul Campbell then came close to levelling the scores two minutes later when he collected Veart’s corner neatly but stabbed over from close range. The visitors were still looking very dangerous and Goddard became the second Alfreton man to have his shot cleared off the Whitby line, this time Steve Swales made the clearence and Reed slid the ball clear. On 20 minutes, Ure again teased the Alfreton defence as he left Blount sprawling in his wake, Butler sprinted towards him, but the Whitby man’s attempted lob dipped just over the visitors’ crossbar. The men from Derbyshire then controlled the rest of the half, with Martin Kearney again in superb form between the sticks for Whitby, saving twice from Nwadike and brilliantly pushed France’s goal-bound header wide after a neat flick on from Bount. But four minutes before the interval, the visitors increased their lead when Bettney’s cross saw France unmarked to tap home from point blank range to send the 100 or so travelling fans into euphoric mood.
Just before the break, Godber and Whitby’s Tony Hall clashed right in front of the referee. A foul from one half of Alfreton’s ‘God Squad’ saw Hall react furiously and the Whitby centre-back was quite fortunate to receive just a booking after appearing to aim a headbutt at the big number nine.
Harry Dunn then made two quick changes at the start of the second half, as Steve Johnson replaced Craig Veart in a very attacking move and Mark Swales swapped with Graeme Williams on the right.
Gildea hammered the ball high and wide from a near impossible angle before the visitors again wrested the territorial advantage from the home side.
On 55 minutes, Alfreton appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee Mr Stalker after Godber went down under Hall’s challenge.
Five minutes later, a ball over the top exposed Whitby’s flimsy offside trap leaving the other half of the ‘God Squad’ Goddard clear on goal with only Kearney to beat, but the former Worksop striker somehow managed to shoot wide when it seemed much easier to score.
However, the frustration didn’t last long for the travelling side as Goddard’s dangerous low cross was turned in by Nwadike for the killer third goal.
On 63 minutes, a decent passing move from the home side saw Robinson play in Johnson whose shot was pushed wide by Butler. It was a real testament to the visitors’ dominance that their keeper’s first actual save came after an hour’s play.
Forward Richard Hore replaced Hall on 77 minutes as Whitby went for broke with four strikers on the field. But little came of it and the away side even added a fourth in the last seven minutes.
Reed hacked down Goddard on the edge of the Whitby box. The resulting free-kick was then expertly fired through the wall and past Kearney’s despairing left hand for 4-0.
The away fans chanted 'Are you watching Coventry?', a reference to France’s proposed move to the First Division side that broke down last week. The rest of the Unibond will also be watching if the newcomers recent form continues. The scoreline certainly didn’t flatten the visitors, who were the better side in every department all afternoon. The Blues were run ragged at the back and once again failed to get on the scoresheet themselves. They look disorganised and at times, disinterested, as they continually failed to use the flanks or put together any sustained pressure at any time in the match. Hopefully, this is the wake up call they need to sort things out and ensure that the proposed new grandstand isn’t overseeing a lower grade of football next season.

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