Cake

Alfreton Town 0-2 Kidderminster Harriers (National League North)

I’ve got a family birthday party tonight and need to be back by 6pm so am restricted on distance which means it’s one of two choices, Basford United, a ground I don’t particularly like going to, but one that’s closest to my home, or Alfreton Town, a good 40 minutes’ drive, up two junctions of the M1, and a place which seems to always provide the best in hospitality, a friendly football club at what feels like a proper non-league ground, and extra bonus they’re playing Kidderminster Harriers, a team I’ve not seen this season, who are managed by ex-Premier League icon, Phil Brown.

Even better news, Alfreton have put out a post on Twitter/X that Bill Wheatcroft the club’s photographer has baked a cake. They’ll be two for those in the press box to enjoy today, a Malteser Cheesecake and an Apple Crumble. Now you see why I love heading to the Impact Arena.

Alfreton have had it tough in recent weeks, injuries, and long ones too, have decimated their usually small squad, it’s taken a toll on the pitch as the Reds have won just twice in eight, losing the rest, stumbling down the table from playoff pretenders to middle pack obscurity, whilst Kidderminster themselves, flying at the early part of the campaign are without a win in five, they’ve fallen surprisingly out of the playoff places but drew with league leaders Chester last weekend, a win today would have them hovering again in the mix.

I’ve taken the dog out for his morning walk, whilst listening to a grassroots podcast interview of new Eastwood CFC owner Lee Wood, a lad I played football with many times and one who still owes me a tenner from 20 years ago, a good lad, is football through and through, he was once Hucknall Town FC’s youngest ever player after making his debut at 16, I never imagined he would one day own a football club. Eastwood are currently doing well at the top of the United Counties League under Lee, managed by former Carlton Town duo Darryl Thomas and Martin Ball, they have some serious players too.

I’ve warmed up from my walk, had a brew and sat with the Mrs for an hour as she watched last night’s repeat of Love Island before I move gratefully out the door at 12:30pm, I’m out early as the earlier I get to Alfreton the better for parking (not just because I can't stand Love Island), I’m up the M1 and arrive on North Street before half one, parking outside almost opposite the ground, remember I’ve got a quick getaway tonight and need to be back for six so it’s all in my tactical exit strategy plan.

The Venue

Drizzle in the grey skies, the Kiddy bus is weaving down the tight road between cars before reversing into the club car park as I speak on hands free to my mate who’s phoned up to tell me he’s moving house.

Chin wag over, I make a move a good ninety minutes before kick-off, the shutters being pulled up to open the gates as I walk through reception and say my name. “Have you been here before?” I’m asked upon entrance, “loads of times” is my confident reply. Walking into the corner of the ground where there’s been a pitch inspection already passed, it looks sticky on foot does the sloped muddy pitch, the rain not too bad as I make my way to the press area and sit myself down.

It’s a classic football home this place, you can hear the thud of the music coming out of the dressing rooms, the rain on the tinned roof, open ended to my left, a stand propped up by many posts opposite, a section behind the goal to my right which is segregated for away fans only today, offering elevated views under the covered bank, and the one I’m in, a tight squeeze almost on top of the pitch, as the players walk out, Kiddy Manager Phil Brown parks himself at the away team dugout, cream chinos, black suede boots, a green wax jacket and flat cap, a passer-by shouts “you going shooting Phil” before he starts to gently walk across the squidgy pitch as I question if he really chose the appropriate footwear today.

The Game

The pitch is cut up just from the warmups, it looks heavy on foot, and I wonder if it’ll impact more the Alfreton game as pressing and harassing would be more difficult, if none of their players can stand up.

And in actual fact it does seem that Kidderminster take to it better, they are up for it today, after a decent result against Chester, they know that they’re in for a battle, everyone who comes to Alfreton knows that they are in for a battle, and their players make good choices, don’t over play it, they get rid and long, getting the hosts turned, Phil Brown and Neil McDonald, a former player for Newcastle United many years ago, in thick North Eastern accents, encouraging their players shouting “go whon, go whon”.

It's far from classic, a stalemate of a first half is underwhelming but the away side have a corner, they’ve done more pressing and look the better of the two teams, Reiss McNally up from the back gets the ball bouncing underneath him, he swings a right boot and finds the bottom of the net through a crowd.

The Score

That gives Kiddy a cushion going into half time, which also offers myself the perfect opportunity to go get some cake.

The press room is full at the break, it backs on to the press seats and is basic to say the least, looking out to the pitch beyond the glass, it has a few chairs a fridge and kettle, some biscuits on the windowsill, and this week cake.

I always bring a pound coin as the club don’t fund the media section, but those who work for the club always ensure there’s something to eat, something to drink, and at half time I pour myself a coffee and take a slice of apple crumble which is divine. Hats off to Chef Wheatcroft.

On with the second half, I’m chatting away with the scout next to me on destinations covered this season, he’s Burton based with a Brummie accent but loves as much as I do the travel and ground hop of various grounds largely throughout the Midlands.

That passes the time in what is a pretty drab affair, but credit Kidderminster, they stifle everything Alfreton throw at them, Kam Kandola and Reece Devine are brilliant at the back, heading, kicking, clearing their lines and enjoying the competitive tussle with Alfreton striker Gerry McDonagh.

Ashley Hemmings is lively on the left of the Harriers attack; he’s clipped a shot against the outside of a post which is the nearest either side come to adding to the score-line before the same player is felled on the edge of the area, adjudged, just, to be inside the box, penalty to Kidderminster, and after a five minute wait for a fan to be ejected behind the goal, for having a go at an official, Amari Morgan-Smith steps up, sends Askew the wrong way and puts the game to bed.

The Stars

Alfreton without their usual goalkeeper George Willis are indebted to Jake Askew who makes a couple of flying stops to keep the score down, but his kicking is wayward on a tough day for the home side, Andy Anson is gritty at centre half, George Cantrill, as ever, works his socks down to his ankles in midfield, new signing Sam Osborne trying without success in attack, but the better team is clearly the away side.

Christian Dibble hardly having a shot to save, the back five impeccable in tough and tricky conditions, McNally a centre half at stand in right back for the injured Joe Foulkes, Kandola and Devine having solid matches at the heart, left back Caleb Richards also very good.

Going forward, Amari Morgan-Rogers as always puts himself about and scored an important goal, on Friday I searched Jordan Pickford’s time on loan at Alfreton Town, to see that in 2013 Morgan-Smith had scored the opener for Kiddy v Alfreton in a 3-1 win, his first ever Harriers goal, his most recent some 12 years later.

The Verdict

Kidderminster have the tools, for promotion, they have a celebrity Manager who looks like he’s at home in rural Worcestershire, coaching a talented team that gives nothing less than 110%.. No egos, no superstars, just hard work and graft, with a bit of quality on top, they’ll be in the mix come what May, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better team in the Division, perhaps on a par with Chester and above Scunthorpe as the standout teams for me.

Alfreton as always will be ok, not the season they had hoped, the injuries haven’t helped, but they’ll be far from falling into any relegation scraps, too good for that, perhaps not good enough to go up, they’ll be ok in the middle shuffle, and will no doubt go again with similar effect next season.

The Teams

Alfreton Town: Jake Askew, Adam Lund (Owen German 75), Adam Anson, Dwayne Wiley, George Cantrill, Lewis Salmon, Jed Abbey (Liam Waldock 59), Nathan Newell, Gerry McDonagh, David Salademi, Sam Osborne (Billy Whitehouse 86).

Kidderminster Harriers: Christian Dibble, Caleb Richards, Paul Downing, Reece Devine (Charlie Lutz 90), Reiss McNally, Amari Morgan-Smith, Ashley Hemmings, Zak Brown, Maz Kouzhyar (David Davis 82), Jim Kellerman, Kam Kandola.

3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 15th February 2025, North Street, Alfreton (att 613).