Two Points Short

Alfreton Town 2-2 Buxton (National League North)

Tonight’s Derbyshire Derby is massive. If Buxton win, they will probably be in the playoffs, if Alfreton lose, they will most likely be down, a winner takes all opportunity? Would it be wise to predict a draw?

In actual fact, nothing can be decided tonight, the two teams have a game in hand on most around them, ahead of the final two weekends of the National League North season, but victory means bridging the gap on those above, and points are vital at this late stage.

The Bucks are now in their fourth season at the level, following promotion from the Northern Premier League in 2022, whilst Alfreton haven’t been as low as this level since 2004, having spent four seasons in the league above, they have been a National North staple of eleven years.

That looks like a run perhaps coming to an end, a five-point gap on survival with three to play, a tall ask in relying on others for their own safety.

Buxton are also reliant on others losing to break into a promotion pushing place, they are in good form having won seven of their last eight, Alfreton themselves unbeaten in four.

Another short road trip which is ideal for this time of the season, I only have a handful of games remaining before a bit of time off to watch some cricket and go abroad. I’ve had to attend a funeral today but I’m back home for 4pm, shirt and tie scrapped for an all-black tracky, I’m out the door an hour later to drop a present off at the mother-in-law’s before making the short commute up the A610 and M1 after a brew, J28 and the A38 for Alfreton, arriving close enough to North Street, a good hour ahead of kick off.

The Ground

It’s busy tonight, a local derby of course, so cars are parked around the tight roads that side the ground, annoying for neighbours, some have their ‘no parking’ cones out, I try and plonk my motor a bit out of the way, around the corner and a good five or ten-minute walk.

There’s some drizzle in the air, a bit of a nip, a greying evening as I walk up North Street past some semi-detached houses and towards the club’s car park, the Main Reception and turnstiles now bearing the board Solana Stadium following their official rebranding from the former Impact Arena.

I’m greeted by a bloke who hardly smiles, who hardly even acknowledges my name, “yep” he says, as I walk through the tight reception door. Inside, George Cantrill is going through the paces already out on the pitch, it doesn’t look like he’s playing tonight, doing his own fitness routine.

I walk the tight trek down the side of the stand propped up by posts with its tight brick walks, towards the seated area for press, cushty, near half way, up close and lofted with a good but sometimes restricted view of the pitch.

I say hello to the usual crowd who gather around in the clubs lovely snug press room, cameramen and tannoy announcers, tweeters and tubers in here these days, the club have started doing a ‘watch party’ where two kids scream on camera during the 90 minutes, about anything but the football, it seems.

Bill has got cakes, as I make myself a brew. Fruit Cakes on a tray, “on the side there’s a pear sponge” he says. “I get fat coming here” I tell him.

He’s handing around the cakes to everyone ahead of the game, as I park myself down to take some notes, everyone around me is enjoying the sweet delicacies offered out, as always, for free.

The Game

Liam sits down, he’s the club’s tweeter, “are you nervous today” I ask him? “A little bit” is the reply… But he’s resigned to Alfreton’s fate by now, “I’ve accepted it” he says.

Still there’s a chance, and as we wait for the lights to be turned on ahead of kick off, I expect a good performance, and a good game, as both teams need a win, you feel they’ll both throw sinks into the kitchen.

No sooner are we kicked off, the lights flickering slowly into brightness under darkening skies above, do Alfreton boot it against a Buxton forward, and Johnny Johnston runs through on goal, one on one, he should score, but opens his right foot and flicks it onto the outside of the post, let off, had that gone in, it would have been a long old night for Alfreton.

The away side look up for it as their star wide man Luke Brennan often runs forward and directly attempts to take on right back Kieron Freeman, but the game settles into front and back ping pong as Alfreton warm into their usual routine, there’s throw-ins going into the box, free kicks lofted high and long, Buxton are direct themselves, but look to play quickly to their front three who all have pace and technique, but after a bit of a scrap, a couple of cards, and not much high quality on show, a set play goal, one that Buxton were anticipating, on 40 minutes when a free kick is pumped in, the ball headed by Adam Lund onto his own shoulder, bouncing nicely into the net, Joe Young in goal standing bewildered by what just happened.

The Score

That lead doesn’t last long, as Buxton possess their own long throw, not quite as long, as the ball again ping pongs around, Johnny Johnston is suddenly with time and space, edge of the area, to curl one into the corner.

It’s all going off as this game suddenly comes into life, the fourth official has the extra minutes board in her hands as an Adam Lund missile is thrown into the area, Kieran Burton is the unlucky man who makes significant contact, the leather coming off his dreadlocked head to bounce net bound towards yet another set play goal, as half time hits us soon after, the stats are thrown around the press area, apparently Alfreton Town scored twelve set piece goals in succession earlier in the season, the Buxton official sitting closely said according to his records, the Reds had scored 60% of their goals this season, from set-plays.

Well aware of those stats I think Buxton Manager John McGrath made some eloquent tweaks in the second half. “Don’t give away throw-ins” he most likely told his men, because the second 45 is much different, the Blues controlling the ball, keeping it more deck friendly, whilst trying to wrestle against the direct dishing that Alfreton would serve.

It’s still a keen contest, feisty, threatening at times to boil over but that never materialises, just competitive football played with a real intent not just to win, but to also not lose.

You feel Alfreton are nearing victory as they decide to take forward Dylan Youmbi off for a defender in Jo Cummings, but no sooner do they do that, a ball is played into the box, and a penalty awarded, was it the hands of Ligendza? Was he done for grappling? A lot was going off, but the Referee was clear, Luke Brennan stepping up, to do the rest.

That goal sets up a lively half hour where Buxton create the better chances to win it, but in the dying moments Alfreton were denied, a ball bouncing around the area had Lewis Salmon leading into an open goal scenario, Max Bardell to the rescue with a terrific last ditched tackle, if Alfreton drop down by two points this season, that could be the block that makes the difference? If Buxton scrape into the playoffs by a point, it might be the block that makes a difference?

Later still chances come as I myself ooh and ahh as Buxton go close, but in the end of a hypnotic game of football, the Referee calls time to instil disappointment in both sets of players, a draw doing nobody much harm, but not much good either, it was a win, and three points, that both teams today, so badly wanted.

The Stars

Alfreton have a lot of good players right now and you feel had they had this team during the middle part of the season then they might not be in the relegation zone. Not as tall and nasty and rugged as teams of previous, but they have some players with pace, some with style, some with the old fashioned thump it mentality, a good blend, but perhaps with some on loan from professional clubs, still some rebuilding ahead.

Jacob Scott on loan from Boston United was very good at centre back, alongside Max Hunt with Nathan Newall a consistent warrior at left back, Kieron Freeman an experienced right back with a wand of a right foot.

In midfield the team probably lacked the quality that Buxton had, but in Kai Lissimore they look to have a good young talent, whilst out wide Lewis Salmon and Dylan Youmbi huffed and puffed.

Youmbi a fine specimen of a man with his oiled legs, certainly has pace and power, but wasn’t so productive tonight, having scored important goals for Alfreton in recent weeks.

In Buxton’s armour they have a blend of good footballers who are competent in ball possession regardless of their whereabouts on the pitch. In particular, I thought Will Trueman was terrific in midfield, a 23-year-old ball playing sprayer with a good engine and tenacity, next to the superb Connor Kirby, they are a delicate duo who know how to dictate, who aren’t afraid of putting their foot in either?

Not a night really for Cian Coleman, but he shown glimpses of technical upbeat in that number ten role, Johnny Johnston always a nuisance with pace, dangerous off the shoulder, jinking away, Luke Brennan carrying the ball forward was as always inventive, Connor Douglas from right full back got forward well, he’s a feisty footballer on loan from Leeds.

The Verdict

The point has neither here nor there, Buxton still two points outside the playoffs, with two to play it doesn’t really do many favours, nor does it do too much harm?

Whilst a point for Alfreton bridges them to within four of King’s Lynn, two to play will mean anything but two victories and it’s relegation for Jake Buxton’s Reds, they do have Curzon Ashton for their last game, who should they fail to beat Buxton (ironically) next, and Alfreton could manage to beat mid table Marine away, it may all come to that, two wins for survival? I have not yet written the Reds off quite yet, but if they do somehow manage to get out of trouble, it might be a minor miracle?

The Teams

Alfreton Town: Charlie Casper, Nathan Newall, Adam Lund, Kai Lissimore, Max Hunt, Lewis Salmon, Siyabonga Ligendza (Gerry McDonagh 74), Jack Newall, Jacob Scott (Sam Newell 74), Dylan Youmbi (Jo Cummings 59), Kieron Freeman.

Buxton: Joe Young, Will Trueman, Will Flint, George Ward, Kieran Burton, Johnny Johnston, Connor Kirby, Cian Coleman (Ashton Mee 85), Luke Brennan, Max Bardell, Connor Douglas.

7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 14th April 2026, North Street, Alfreton (att 725).