Same Difference

Alfreton Town 3-2 Buxton (National League North)

I’ve been here before. A touch of déjà vu? Less than a week ago, Alfreton secured the Derbyshire Senior Cup on penalties, after what was a drab goalless affair against Buxton, at Chesterfield, today, bank holiday Monday, I’m expecting it to be much better.

The Bucks are in the playoff zone, with two games remaining of the season to play, they’ll be hoping to stay there, consolidate, a win or draw at North Street will put them in good stead going into their final match against already relegated Warrington, a defeat however, and it might not be in their hands.

Alfreton have little to play for really. Their lower mid table finish has them thankfully well clear of the bottom four, but well below the top seven, simply playing for pride and to get yet another one over their cross peak neighbours, ish… Buxton to Alfreton is 50 minutes and 33 miles away, across West to East of northern Derbyshire County.

It’s been a quiet bank holiday for me, no game on Good Friday as I decided to spend time with the wife and dog, that’s because I had my first cricket game of the season on Saturday, scoring at the stunning test venue of Headingley in Leeds for a match between Yorkshire and Worcestershire women, then home yesterday for a lamb dinner with the in-laws, I long booked in my bank holiday fixture on the premise that it always rains on Easter Monday and we probably won’t risk a family day out, so after the wife spends the morning car shopping, I’m out early afternoon, as the heavens start to open, up the M1 to junction 28 and onto the A38 before pulling up a little down the road from the North Street stadium for just after 1:30pm.

The Venue

It’s pissing it down. I’ve parked up on Brook Avenue at the bottom of North Street, a housing estate of ex-council style semi-detached houses, the rain pelting down on my windscreen as I give it five to slow down. Finally, out of the car it’s just a couple of minutes up the hill, as I walk towards the entrance of the Impact Arena, a place I’ve been plenty of times in recent years.

Turnstiles not yet open, I’m through the main reception and into the ground, walking past the club shop, which is floor to ceiling in dusty old programmes, past the burger kiosk where folk are just setting out, and towards the press area of the narrow Main Stand which is a largely covered standing area, brick walled with a tiny bit of seating.

I pop my head in the press box to say hello, before Bill pops out and says “do you want some cake”. “Celebratory cake?” I reply, after last week’s Cup victory. “Nope, we always have it” Bill replies. “Although you best get some as the photographer who makes it might not be doing it next season”. A sad sigh, he won’t be getting to as many games after today, so I tell Bill “I best make sure I bring some with me then when I come here next”.

It's quaint and calming here as I stand up perched against a loose MDF partition whilst eating some superbly baked rich chocolate cake on a paper plate washed down with a paper cup of tea, paid for with my usual pound in the kitty, the rain clattering down on the roof as a Member of staff tells a photographer unsure of braving the elements that “the weather’s not as bad as it sounds”.

The players out warming up on the pitch in front, slightly cutting up as their studs tread in the soft ground, the stands sparse of people, an open end to my left, an away end of hardcore and noisy Buxtonites mostly under the small roofed stand taking cover to my right, the other covered seating area across the pitch with only a sporadic few.

The Game

I’m joined by a fella who works for Derby County to my left, he’s got the Rams game on live v West Brom on his iPad, a fella on my right is a Derby season ticket holder who’s asking for updates, I daren’t tell them I’m a Forest fan. As we instead talk about the happenings in what’s in front of us.

The first ten is back to front and back again with little quality to show, Buxton playing percentages on a pitch that’s not great, Alfreton playing percentages because they always do, it’s not pretty, it rarely is, it feels a little more old fashioned in action than the Derbyshire Senior Cup Final which had a bit more early safe ball retention on the flat surface of Chesterfield FC but I get the feeling like on that day, very little is happening today, then from nowhere, a corner won by Alfreton is played low to Jed Abbey, he shoots through a crowd which takes a deflection, and Alfreton are one up.

There’s only sixteen gone, and two minutes later it’s two, Gerry McDonagh has proved an early handful for the young Buxton centre half duo of Faulkner and Mann. McDonagh has wrestled the ball, swung a right leg, and another one hit low, through a crowd, perhaps with a slight nick upon it’s journey, suddenly it’s 2-0 and McDonagh has his first Reds goal since re-signing for the club earlier in the year.

“I’m pleased for Gerry in finally breaking his duck” says Liam the clubs tweeter, as I suspect with only a game to go this season, so the striker will be too.

Alfreton are confident in the first half, keeping out any Buxton threat due largely to winning their defensive duals. Dwayne Wiley is a competitor at centre half who heads, kicks and crashes through his opponent as Max Hunt next to him is solid and reliable, Wiley constantly talking him through, Hunt delivers with doing what he’s told. At left back David Solademi is keeping the speedy Johnny Johnston quiet. At right back Luke Matheson, gritty in his work, diminutive in size, defends well against the technically talented Luke Brennan.

The first half closes but Buxton aren’t at the races, Alfreton are, and by half time they are deserving of their comfortable two goal lead.

The Score

You feel Buxton will have a go in the second half, as they need a goal or two after hearing from various live score apps that they are slipping out of the playoff picture. And start the half well they do, Johnston racing down the right, crossing to the left, Brennan stabs at it, saved by Kenworthy-Sykes, just, the ball falling back to the Buxton attacker to prod home at the second attempt.

Then five minutes later Buxton score again, a similar scramble in the goalmouth as Brennan’s shot is blocked, inside the area and bobbling around it falls to Coleman who smashes home, the visiting fans go mad behind the goal as the players celebrate like they’ve won the league.

Buxton are brilliant, for ten minutes, then take their foot off the gas, they look like the only team capable of winning the match, but Alfreton back to square one, and with plenty of time remaining, are now themselves deciding that they should have a go, it’s a much better match than last Tuesday, but then, it couldn’t have been much worse.

There’s more pressure coming from the home side and they win a free kick on 72 when Mann is adjudged to have fouled McDonagh outside the area. Jed Abbey lines it up, see’s space around the wall, and curls home a beauty to grab his second of the game.

That levels him up on 13 for the season with Lewis Salmon and Jake Day, I ask Liam can they split the top scorers trophy into three as in front of me, the Buxton management look at a mobile phone clip of the goal, they’re not happy with their keeper and how he set up his wall.

Late on there’s a rally from Buxton as Alfreton retreat to two banks that are well drilled and hard to break down, the Bucks do have a claim for a penalty waved away, one that I might have given myself, but you can’t argue the best team have won, and the team who had it all in their hands, now have it all to do.

The Stars

Two goal hero Jed Abbey was a constant threat down the right and took both his opportunist opportunities rather well. Defensively Alfreton as they do, defended like heroes heroically. In midfield the ever impressive George Cantrill did as he always does well, whilst up front, Gerry McDonagh gave his best performance in front of my own eyes. “I don't know why he keeps getting the nod over Jake Day” I say to Liam, who replies “I do”. Enough said, “you’ve seen more of him than me this season” I tell him.

For Buxton, their centre half duo Faulkner and Mann, young but cool, calm, assured, were very easy on the eye. I don’t blame them for any of the three conceded, although the sloppy free kick Ethan Mann gave away was in the end the telling factor. The goalkeeper perhaps at fault from the final whipped in effort. Manchester City loanee True Blakely Grant not covering himself in much glory on the day.

In midfield Oli Ewing shown subtle touches, sometimes, but not enough, Cian Coleman too, showing glimpses but not regularly enough, whilst Luke Brennan was the main threat out left, Johnny Johnston relatively quiet out right, although he does have some pace and is a direct nuisance when freed.

The Verdict

Too little too late is Alfreton’s half decent end to the season. They are now six unbeaten in the league but at best can only finish in thirteenth. Long hampered by injuries during the middle part of the campaign, at least they have a cup to show for their 2024/25 efforts.

Buxton might finish the campaign with nothing. The defeat costly in their aim to reach the playoffs. Now ninth in the table they have two teams above them, and are two points below where they need to be, as I left the stadium ahead of the home clubs player of the season presentations, I could hear the Alfreton fans singing towards their opponents “We’ve f*cked your season up”.

The Teams

Alfreton Town: George Kenworthy-Sykes, Max Hunt, Adam Lund, Dwayne Wiley (Adam Anson 86), George Cantrill, Jed Abbey, Nathan Newell, Gerry McDonagh (Akeel Francis 78), David Solademi, Owen German, Luke Matheson.

Buxton: True Blakeley Grant, Dermi Lusala (Keziah Martin 83), Ethan Mann, Bobby Faulkner, Connor Kirby, Luke Brennan, Cian Coleman (Josh Williams 90), Johnny Johnston, Kieran Burton, Oli Ewing, Ryan Viggars (Josh Popoola 68).

3:00pm Kick Off. Monday 21st April 2025, North Street, Alfreton (att 698).