Pride Of The County

Alfreton Town 0-0 Buxton (Derbyshire Senior Cup Final) *4-3 pens

I've just noticed the Derbyshire FA twitter account has blocked me, probably for something I said last year after they sold out of Senior Cup Final tickets at Derby County's 33,000 capacity Pride Park for a match between Buxton & Heanor that had little more than 1,000 in attendance on the night.

No mistakes tonight, tickets available online right up until kick off in Chesterfield. At least they listened to my advice before cancelling any future comments I make.

The Bucks have won this competition twice on the bounce, 12 times in total, more than any other club in the county. Alfreton though have won it ten times and are looking to bridge that gap joining Ilkeston with eleven wins as two of the three top teams from this neck of the Midlands go head to head for the first time in less than a week. They also play each other in the league on Bank Holiday Monday.

It's a hayfever kind of day. Sniffs and sneezes the order of play as the weather takes a colder turn from a lush last week. I'm up through Nottingham and onto the M1 for late afternoon, getting into Chesterfield and pulling up on Sheffield Road where it's free to park after 6pm outside King Carpets.

The Venue

Modern and compact the once named Proact more recently branded Technique Stadium has changed its name for another sponsor. Now the SMH Group Stadium it opened in 2010 to replace Saltergate, holding just over 10,000 it's the home of Chesterfield FC and is a modern purpose built facility suitable for exactly this type of thing.

No accreditation tonight (as the Derbyshire FA has blocked me). I'm in with the Alfreton fans in the corner of the West Stand near the North Stand corner flag, they're making a racket in behind as the Buxton fans do the same down the far end, all three stands closed, blue seats, bar this one which is half full, separated by a large sparse centre.

I'm joined ahead of kick off by an old boy who also supports Eastwood Community, a club I know well. He's 66 and asks when I was born. "November 24th 1978" I say. "It was a Friday" he replies. "On the Saturday I watched Scunthorpe v Sheffield Wednesday at the old Showground in the snow, it was an FA Cup game and ended 1-1". I'm astounded by his knowledge. "Any more results that weekend" I ask. "I think Mansfield lost to Shrewsbury, Huddersfield were beat by Doncaster 2-1". (I've shamelessly just fact checked these and he was right).

The Game

There's been a few changes made by both teams who each have strong benches tonight, if level after 90 it goes straight to pens.

Buxton have most of the possession in a first half which they dictate. No8 and captain Connor Kirby getting on the ball and making them play. Centre halves Mann and Faulkner leisurely knocking it between each other, Alfreton standing off, the Bucks danger largely coming from the left where Brennan cuts in with the ball and Keziah Martin overlaps from full back, but is rarely found.

Chances are few and far between and it's far from thrilling, the happier of the two perhaps Alfreton at the break who's defensive line isn't breached, but their long ball game isn't working. They need to do more in attack.

The Score

After half time you see a resurgence in the Alfreton play. More aggressive and on the front foot they take the game to Buxton who probably don't expect to do as much defending as they do.

But Paul Cooper's goal is hardly tested, Lewis Salmon does give them a scare when he bobbles one under a challenge which has to be cleared off the line, Adam Lund heads wide and Jake Day drives over, but anything clear cut is limited as both teams defend really well.

Buxton's best effort is a long range drive low by Johnny Johnston which the keeper gets down to, but it's one of those games where you can predict after five minutes gone in the first half, that it'll end nil nil, and it did.

So straight to penalties where somebody unfortunately has to play villain. The first two scored, I fear for Sam Osborne who used to play for Buxton, but he squeezed his spot kick under the keeper to put Alfreton 2-1 up. The next two are scored before Keziah Martin has his shot saved, Adam Lund though couldn't capitalise as Paul Cooper stopped his effort from going in, but two more goals had Alfreton 4-3 up with one to play, and this is where I turn to the old boy and say "he'll save this" and from Johnny Johnston he did. Star of the show George Sykes-Kenworthy the penalty saving king, a new cult hero who's on loan from York City.

The Stars

The goalkeeper may deservedly take the plaudits but kept relatively quiet this wasn't one for the purists, instead the defenders of the day came out on top, all did very well in limiting chances to the opposition. For Alfreton, that included Dwayne Wiley and Max Hunt who as usual, headed and kicked everything away, whilst left back David Solademi worked hard, he was playing six-a-side in London 24 hours earlier in the Baller League live on Sky Sports, so well done just making it through 90 minutes unscathed.

Luke Matheson on loan from Bolton at right back, is another who did well, whilst in midfield, the engine of George Cantrill was ever-running around, socks rolled down, gritty and determined as ever.

For Buxton, their centre half pairing of Ethan Mann and Bobby Faulkner is one that gels, the latter on loan from Doncaster Rovers, both tall, both accomplished on the ball, and both having a relatively easy night in doing their jobs successfully for the team.

Ben Sault on occasion from midfield drove with the ball, as did Luke Brennan on the left, sometimes frustratingly too often, cutting in, but he does have ability, their best player perhaps their captain in Connor Kirby who strutted the ball around the centre of the park.

The Verdict

It was a contrast of styles, Buxton able to play their passing game without really penetrating a defensive structure who were happy to concede possession. On a nice big flat pitch it should really have been the Bucks who came out on top, but organisation won the day.

On Monday they'll do it all again in the league. Buxton still have an outside chance of the playoffs so they might seem their visit to North Street is more important? But in a funny way, their style of trying to play football on the deck, may be tougher to do on a tighter sloped surface at the Impact Arena.

The Teams

Alfreton Town: George Sykes-Kenworthy, Luke Matheson, Nathan Newell, Dwayne Wiley, Max Hunt, Owen German (Liam Waldock 69), Adam Lund, George Cantrill, David Solademi, Lewis Salmon (Sam Osborne 84), Gerry McDonagh (Jake Day 73).

Buxton: Paul Cooper, Dermi Lusala (OLi Ewing 62), Ethan Mann, Bobby Faulkner, Connor Kirby, Luke Brennan, Ben Sault, Cian Coleman (Daniel Ogwuru 85), Keziah Martin, Josh Popoola (Tommy Elliott 46), Ryan Viggars (Johnny Johnston 55).

7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 15th April 2025, SMH Group Stadium, Chesterfield (att 1,165).