Still Fighting

Alfreton Town 1-0 Chorley (National League North)

It's the business end of the season and time is running out for Alfreton Town who are down in the relegation places and fighting for survival in a division they have been in since 2015.

Cut adrift it all looks a big ask if they are to stay up with seven points needed to gain even a punchers chance of keeping at the weight they are currently at, against Chorley tonight, they take on a team with little to play for but pride and placings, having already hit the fifty point mark for the season.

I'm out the door for the first of three games ahead of the Easter Holidays this week, at 5:30pm I leave my house and head up a busy Nottingham ring road, onto the M1 before coming off at J28. I've a bit of time and have not yet eaten so spot a naughty KFC nearby, where I sit in and finish off a chicken zinger meal before pulling up on North Street an hour ahead of kick off where I easily find a place to park.

The Venue

The Chorley bus is here, the lads by now are in the changing rooms as I head through the tiny door to reception and ask if I'm on the man at the desks guestlist. They always seem to add my name on at Alfreton so no troubles getting in here, as I walk past the programme selling hut which is floor to ceiling of dusty old magazines, the pitch on my left sloping down as I walk through the tight gangway to my seat in the press area, past the visitors changing rooms where there's some concerns about a kit clash. "We're in maroon, they're in red" says someone with a worried look, but I'm told the Chorley maroon is nearer chocolate brown, but on viewing it's probably darker to Bourneville black.

I pop my head in the press room here which is one of the friendliest on the circuits. "Help yourself to tea and coffee" says Bill, before walking around offering a plate of cakes which has most likely been made by the clubs photographer (he's the master baker in these parts).

The players warm up within spitting distance of our seats, the away team dugout just in front, it's up close and personnel is Alfreton with everything said on the touchline heard in the press box, the run down seated stand on the far side doesn't look that busy tonight, neither does either end, as Liam the clubs tweeter tells me "it's last chance saloon" as the home team need a win tonight.

The Game

As the cloudy skies darkens I'm met by a Brummie scout who's a usual in these parts, we talk football through the entirety of the game as we have a lot to catch up on. Mansfield Town Manager Nigel Clough walks by ahead of kick off, and what starts with Chorley dominating possession early on, turns into a scrap with Alfreton imposing their aggressive nature on their opponents, by now the away side are giving some back, it's a direct shootout of who can kick it longest, who can head it furthest, who can run and press the most as tackles and feet go in all sorts of directions, one visiting player getting a Gerry McDonagh boot to his head No card for Alfreton's striker, somehow.

I'm impressed with Chorley who are more than up for the fight, young winger Jack Griffiths who they signed from Rochdale in November, has a bit of technique, he's gutsy and direct, positive in his play, working hard to win the ball back when out of possession, whilst Harry Ibbitson up top is a handful, on loan from Bradford he too is busy and talented, Clarke on the left a good footballer, Manager Andy Preece has plenty of good footballers in his team, but I sense a trap, set by Alfreton, as Chorley aren't playing enough good football.

The away side have sniffs without really troubling Charlie Casper's goal but they start to go direct, as both teams pick up bookings it becomes bitty and bobby, exactly what Alfreton need, and from a free kick awarded after O'Kane is shown a yellow for a foul on half way, Jo Cummings is on hand to poke home from close range, he's on loan from Halifax and has been brilliant since signing, a defender who has four goals for the Reds since joining, apparently the clubs second top goalscorer this season, which tells you a lot, about where they are lacking.

The Score

It's a battle, not pretty, but compelling, as the first half ends with Alfreton very much in the driving seat, they have played well. "Really well" I tell Liam who's sitting next to me tweeting the half time score. "You don't look like a team resigned to relegation... Plenty of fight left" as he responds pleased by the performance but says "there's still 45 minutes to go".

You get the feeling everyone here has been impressed with how Alfreton have played, it's the Alfreton we all know and love, as I'm told by others around when they have something to cling onto, they are a different beast to when chasing games, and that single goal gives them confidence throughout. Gerry McDonagh is a centre forward who I don't particularly usually rate, he's been brilliant tonight, leading the line with aggression and movement, troubling defenders who dare go near him.

There are few chances, half sniffs, but young Charlie Casper is well protected, the likes of Lund and Hunt head everything away, whilst George Cantrill as usual runs his socks down to his ankles.

There's a scare late on when Jo Cummings goes off injured, but Alfreton regroup and reshuffle, to see out the game. It's a huge win as the whistle blows, you can feel the tension relieved upon victory, helped by Hereford losing tonight, just four points adrift now Alfreton, with six still to play.

The Stars

It was one of those nights where every player in red was probably an eight out of ten, nothing pretty, nothing that the watching Nigel Clough would probably want to take with him to League One, but commitment and work rate levels were second to none, we all agreed that Gerry McDonagh was a worthy man of the match, the best I've seen him play, but I did really like Jo Cummings who I believe makes a difference (in both boxes) when he plays for Alfreton.

For Chorley, they didn't start their veteran centre half Mark Ellis and whilst I get he probably can't play two or even three games a week at the ripe old age of 37, rested ahead of a busy Easter period no doubt, Alfreton away is the sort of game when a player with his size, his stature, aggression and experience is needed. He came on with his team already 1-0 down and improved the back line instantly, but by then the goal conceded was enough to give their opponents that bit to cling onto.

Going forward I think Chorley have some really easy on the eye players in their makeup, tonight they battled, but fell to Alfreton levels, and really didn't trust the ball enough, or their technique, to get them out of the trouble they put themselves in.

On loan from Fylde, Taelor O'Kane again impressed in midfield, he won some headers, stuck his foot in and put a full bodied effort in against one of the most committed teams on the circuit, perhaps Nigel Clough had an eye on him? O'Kane and Mike Calveley are lovely footballers, but today wasn't really a night for lovely football.

Twenty-year-old Jack Griffiths who floated from wing to wing gave a real output of energy and was hot to handle but handled well by those gutsy Alfreton defenders, young Ibbitson likewise in central attack well looked after, against opposition who'll give you time and space, I think these lads will have much more productive days ahead.

The Verdict

Alfreton face local rivals Worksop Town on Good Friday before travelling to bottom of the table Leamington on Bank Holiday Monday, there's certainly no reason they can't win both games, and if they do, it'll be a huge week for the football club.

It's a tough ask for Jake Buxton and his team but they are certainly still fighting for their right to stay in the division, a team written off a few weeks ago, who have clearly not given up the fight just yet. Personally, I wouldn't be stupid enough to write a team like Alfreton Town off, but if they don't bring home points this weekend, it could be good night on their eleven year long National League North era.

The Teams

Alfreton Town: Charlie Casper, Nathan Newall, Adam Lund, Kai Lissimore (Dylan Youmbe 77), Max Hunt, George Cantrill, Gerry McDonagh, Lewis Salmon, Jack Newall, Jo Cummings (Jacob Scott 72), Kieron Freeman.

Chorley: Matt Urwin, Scott Wilson (Mark Ellis 40), Harvey Smith, Jack Griffiths (Milan Lalkovic 61), Mike Calveley (Joe Nolan 60), Warren Clarke (Tom Walker 71), Jack Moore (Adam Blakeman 86), Taelor O'Kane, Sam Bird, Owen German, Harry Ibbitson.

7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 31st April 2026, North Street, Alfreton (att 440).