Stevie Mac

Alfreton Town 0-1 Rotherham United (Friendly)

Spain are world champions, Argentina got what they deserved, and England made bronze, after arguably the game of the tournament v France on Saturday night.

I was scratching around for some sport to watch on Monday after the World Cup ended the night before, I eventually I flicked my TV over from the World Matchplay Darts to watch the Premier League Years, the iconic “I would love it” 1995/96 season highlighted on the sad day of a football great, Kevin Keegan, passing aged 75.

Tonight I’m back at Alfreton, who have had some high-profile friendlies against league opposition already this season. The Solana Stadium which I prefer to call North Street has hosted Notts County, Burton Albion, Derby County so far, the Millers in town tonight after relegation from League One, they’ll be much change at the New York Stadium this year with Alex Bruce now at the helm, beside him, Steve McClaren is Head of Football in a new modern management role created by the club.

Rotherham drew with ‘Ofton’s’ Derbyshire rivals Matlock Town on Saturday, some players involved, including Jamie Jellis, signed from Walsall, Ossama Ashley new in from Salford City and Fabio Tavares from Burton, formerly of Rochdale and Coventry City.

Aaron Nemane is another new player and will provide width, after signing from MK Dons whilst Saturday’s scorer from the spot in a 1-1 draw was down as Trialist C, who appeared to be Kyle Vassell, the much travelled 33-year-old striker who is currently looking for a home.

Alfreton were beaten 2-0 by Derby County on Friday night, Manager Jake Buxton said “we came out with a lot of credit” from the game but the Reds squad is threadbare with signings still needed, the club are after reinforcements to bolster their options. “We are two or three short” says Buxton. Town’s Northern Premier League season starting on August 8 at Curzon Ashton.

I’m out the door for gone five, crawling through the Nottingham ring road traffic, the M1 not much better, it’s an hour or so to travel twenty miles but I’m not the only one late, as Rotherham’s team bus offloads its players with just over an hour to go until kick off.

The Venue

It’s a 7:30pm start tonight and I’m in through the turnstiles of this quaint home in the centre of town, a lady asks me if I want a go on the fifty fifty as two old boys sit at decorators tables full of pin badges. I make my way down to the press box where Jeff is in a hot sweat, the Rotherham lads congregated along the pitch perimeter and in the stands, there looks to be loads of them here tonight.

Steve McClaren is here too, he parks himself down a couple of seats from me as I’m joined by Liam, the Alfreton Town tweeter and a friendly scout, our chat about the World Cup interrupted by the tannoy announcer asking “whoever’s parked on Alma Street, can you move your cars, as you are blocking a bus from getting by, and the Police have been called”. I ask Steve McClaren “It’s not you who’s parked there is it” his reply “I was just thinking that” but thankfully, there’s no potential arrest for the ex-England Manager.

As the players continue to warm up on the hardened dry surface, scorched by the recent sunny weather, the ground is sparse in attendance, as it was last week for the visit of Burton, apparently against Notts County and Derby this place was full, with near 3,000 here to watch the Rams on Friday night, there’s little over 300 today.

The Game

Rotherham in their changed blue strip include three new signings in Jamie Jellis, Osama Ashley and Fabio Tavares, and it’s the latter of those who looks to make things happen as he attacks the Alfreton defenders with speed and technique.

Tavares has an early attempt blocked before a trialist, Jez Davies, a player who I have liked the look of from Peterborough Sports in the past, he tries his luck and has an effort saved, before the moment of the half, the moment of the game, Tavares tricking and teasing his marker with quick feet to get away, before sliding low into the net, an opener for the Millers.

That’s as good as it gets in a first half which Alfreton work hard in, they have a few trialists themselves, Ewan Robson at centre half previously of Sherwood Colliery and Carlton Town, looks like he has a bit to offer, as does Ash Hunter who’s an experienced forward who boasts Fleetwood Town, Salford City, MK Dons and most recently, Marine FC on his CV.

There’s chances for Jellis who blazes over, and Joe Rafferty who impresses, he has an effort cleared off the line, whilst I’m impressed with Lenny Agbaire, a player I watched play for Celtic B (Youth) a couple of seasons back, he’s next to Emmanuel Adegboyega and both look solid, against a game but contained Siya Ligendza.

The Score

At half time a Rotherham fan comes up to Steve McClaren and asks him for a photo. He then also asks him, “What did you think of England during the World Cup?” ‘They did well’ was McClaren’s reply… “It’s tough at the top” says the fan… “It’s tough at the bottom too” says McLaren.

I ask him how many subs his side are likely to make, “they won’t change the whole team” he tells me, but Rotherham do change seven players at the break, I think. Staying on is Lenny Agbaire at centre half and Brandon Cover at right back, whilst Jez Davies gets more minutes, as does Arjany Martha down the left.

Trialist replacements include former Gillingham goalkeeper Jake Turner who did well last week when I watched him represent a PFA side at Barnet, whilst former Manchester United left back Brandon Williams also gets a run, Sonny Aljofree is another former Red Devil who comes on in hope to make impression.

The second half however is not great, Alfreton themselves add in some new faces and it all becomes a bit of a scrap. There’s uproar in the away team dugout as Alex Bruce doesn’t like the Referee not blowing up for a foul, but it’s the only bit of drama on the field, Rotherham dictate, but don’t really penetrate, Agbaire runs the length of the field to tee up Gardner who’s beaten to the ball, the best stand out moment until late on, a chance for Alfreton is squirmed, as their trialist forward stabs wide.

The Stars

Rotherham look a good side in the making but are building a little desperately with more playing power needed ahead of the campaign start. New signings Jellis and Ashley looking decent in midfield. The former a thick set industrious ball carrying number eight who will get goals, the latter, a defensive minded sitter that strokes the ball around simply.

In attack, Fabio Tavares has been hit and miss when I’ve seen him play previously, tonight he was hit, technically good with pace and trickery, who scored from nothing, but might have had at least one more had he made a couple of better decisions.

I really like the centre half duo of Adegboyega and Agbaire, physically strong, powerful no nonsense defenders, whilst Joe Rafferty at left back had a good positive style and tempo to his game. Will Rotherham even need Brandon Williams? One player I do hope they get to keep is Jez Davies, who I know impressed an ex-England manager in the stand, he’s a player still aged just 22 who has had to rebuild his career the hard way, following exits from Spurs and Burnley as a youngster.

For Alfreton, they too had good impressive trialist performances and they do have some loanees that are said to be coming in for the season start, their centre halves played well against tough league opposition, in particular, in Ewan Robson, and in midfield, Tom Solanke and Connor Dixon worked hard together, in attack Siya Ligendza ran his socks off, but they need reinforcements as the season is slowly creeping up, any help to bolster their thin squad will be appreciated.

The Verdict

Alfreton open up their Northern Premier League campaign in just over a couple of weeks time. I doubt they’ll be ready, but once failed trialists from National League and Nat North/South teams fear not good enough, we may get a drip of talent down to the third level of the non league pyramid, and that is when Jake Buxton might get to do some of his best shopping.

I asked Jeff, a club stalwart, what they hope to achieve next season, and he told me “it depends if we get a new owner or not”. Optimism may point to promotion, with a potential new man at the helm with finances to hopefully throw around, but realism may all be about targeting survival, which Jeff is certainly not ruling out as first and foremost of importance.

Rotherham also have a thin squad but after asking Steve McClaren how their recruitment is going, he doesn’t think they are too far off, they’ll probably get some money in for Sam Nombe, but I think they have one or two tricks up their sleeves to come, and if they can get their signings right, I have no doubt Rotherham will be in a good position to go bounce back up to League One.

The Teams

Alfreton Town: Trialist (Jack Price 74), Trialist (Billy Gough 61), Trialist, George Grumley (Trialist 74), Ewan Robson, Tom Solanke, Jakub Kruzysnki (Trialist 61), Connor Dixon, Ashley Hunter, Charlie Finney, Siya Ligendza (Trialist 61).

Rotherham United: Ted Cann (Jake Turner 46), Joe Rafferty (Brandon Williams 46), Emmanuel Adegboyega (Cohen Lee 46), Brandon Cover (Lewis Clarke 60), Osama Ashley (Sonny Aljofree 46), Jamie Jellis (James Clarke 46), Jez Davies, Marvin Kaleta (Aaron Nemane 46), Fabio Tavares (Dean Gardner 46), Ar’Jany Matha (Reece Wilson 74).

7:30pm Kick Off. Tuesday 21st July 2026, North Street, Alfreton (att 399).