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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 29, 2017 14:07:24 GMT
The return festive fixture beckons - with a trip to Derbyshire, and the chance of a first County 'double', in prospect... weather permitting!
Post your hopes, fears and resolutions here...
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 29, 2017 14:12:25 GMT
A slightly-revised 'Take Five' (2018 version) for COWS, making it more specific to New Year's Day and referencing, in a non-libellous way, the Mantack injury...
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TAKE FIVE (2018)… Alfreton Town
By Hatter in Macc
1. A 90-odd-mile round trip to see in the New Year! Better set that alarm…
Good call (as it were…)! To be fair, though, the ‘Reds’ of Alfreton, as this season’s festive ‘double-header’ opponents for County, do lie rather closer to SK3, geographically speaking, than the clubs - namely, Harrogate (twice) and Colwyn Bay - allocated to us by the National League North for Boxing and New Year’s Day matches over the last three seasons! And unlike Bradford Park Avenue, who are the one other side we have faced in these fixtures since joining the NLN, Alfreton’s county (Derbyshire) does at least border ours!
2. Even so, not quite local - or traditional - rivals for the time of year!
True enough, on both counts. There is relatively little by way of playing history between our two clubs prior to their coming together in non-league’s top tier, following County’s relegation from the Football League and Alfreton’s promotion as Conference North champions, just over six years ago. Some Hatters may, however, recall a 2005 pre-season friendly at North Street (or the Impact Arena, if you will) that the Hatters, as a League Two outfit, won 5-2 against their hosts - thanks to a Jermaine Easter hat-trick, together with goals from Chris Williams and Michael Malcolm.
3. How had Alfreton been faring in the non-league world before that?
Pretty impressively - and within quite a short timescale, too. The club was only formed as recently as 1959, following a merger of Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United - just ahead of a time when the coal pits that provided the town’s principal industry were closing. After an initial two seasons in the Central Alliance, Alfreton Town forged up through the Midland League (where an unrelated team of the same name had once plied its trade during the 1920s), the Northern Counties East League and the Northern Premier League, before becoming - along with other current NLN clubs Bradford PA, Gainsborough, Harrogate and Southport - founder members of the Conference North, a level to which the Reds returned in 2015 after four years in the Premier.
They are also nine-time winners of the Derbyshire Senior Cup - and, on lifting that trophy most recently, for 2015/16, happily joined County in some mutual congratulations after the Hatters had been triumphant in the Cheshire equivalent!
4. I am guessing that anyone playing for both clubs would only have done so recently?
Not entirely! Several players from our League days can claim to have done so - including the late Keith Alexander (at County in 1990), who turned out for Alfreton in the late 1970s, fellow former strikers Peter Duffield (1993), Bob Newton (1986) and Neil Ross (2000-03), defenders Martin McIntosh (1997-2000) and Jordan Rose (2010/11, first spell), and goalkeeper Matt Duke (2005). More recently, midfielders Paul Marshall (2013) and Lee Stevenson (2014, as a loanee from
Alfreton), as well as another keeper, Richard O’Donnell (2014), have also featured in each team.
Alfreton’s New Year’s Day squad may contain a couple of ex-Hatters in Chris Sharp (2014/15), who has been part of the Reds’ attack this term, since moving to North Street in the summer, and former County Youth winger Ryan Jennings (2010-12). Sadly, however, our Oldham loanee Kallum Mantack, who was this time last year on loan from the ‘Latics’ at Alfreton, will not, of course feature - having suffered a season-ending broken fibula and dislocated ankle in the reverse-fixture on Boxing Day. Our thoughts, and our best wishes for a speedy recovery, are very much with him.
5. Hear, hear. Now then, is history on our side for a good start to the new year?
It could well be! Sweeping under the carpet County’s first competitive trip to Alfreton that led to a 6-1 thrashing in 2012, North Street has subsequently become a happier hunting ground for us - with two victories followed by last season’s one-all draw. Also, since dropping out of the Football League, the Hatters have yet to lose an away-match on New Year’s Day. Mind you, the outcomes are evenly split between County wins (at Hyde and Colwyn Bay) and postponements (at Bradford and Harrogate)! Looking at the weather forecast, an each-way bet may be advisable…
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Post by hermannsays on Dec 29, 2017 17:53:11 GMT
In Mantack's absence, we seem to have a couple of options in McKenna and Thomas. Given Mantack has played either wing ahead of a FB and also as a wing back when we shift mid-game to a back 3, perhaps McKenna is most suited to filling in. Whatever the case, I really hope that both those players can start chipping in with goals/assists.
JG has talked a fair bit about the investment that went into our front 3 this season (Oswell, Stephenson and Warburton). With Stephenson hitting some form and Warburton ready to return, not to mention the post-match comment about the performances of Winter and Dixon, perhaps we may begin 2018 with our main 3 frontmen on the pitch!
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Post by ceefer on Dec 29, 2017 18:25:51 GMT
In Mantack's absence, we seem to have a couple of options in McKenna and Thomas. Given Mantack has played either wing ahead of a FB and also as a wing back when we shift mid-game to a back 3, perhaps McKenna is most suited to filling in. Whatever the case, I really hope that both those players can start chipping in with goals/assists. JG has talked a fair bit about the investment that went into our front 3 this season (Oswell, Stephenson and Warburton). With Stephenson hitting some form and Warburton ready to return, not to mention the post-match comment about the performances of Winter and Dixon, perhaps we may begin 2018 with our main 3 frontmen on the pitch! It will be good to see McKenna playing longer. For me he is an impact sub but its very difficult to make an impression in 11 mins and he should be given much longer. Lets hope Warby can pick up where he left off. |
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Post by harrogatehatter on Dec 29, 2017 23:03:05 GMT
Is Sam Walker injured? He seems to have disappeared?
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 30, 2017 0:32:00 GMT
I think the phrase is 'out of favour'...  |
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Post by gazz on Dec 30, 2017 0:48:05 GMT
I think the phrase is 'out of favour'... Diplomacy 101!  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2017 8:25:35 GMT
In Mantack's absence, we seem to have a couple of options in McKenna and Thomas. Given Mantack has played either wing ahead of a FB and also as a wing back when we shift mid-game to a back 3, perhaps McKenna is most suited to filling in. Whatever the case, I really hope that both those players can start chipping in with goals/assists. JG has talked a fair bit about the investment that went into our front 3 this season (Oswell, Stephenson and Warburton). With Stephenson hitting some form and Warburton ready to return, not to mention the post-match comment about the performances of Winter and Dixon, perhaps we may begin 2018 with our main 3 frontmen on the pitch! I don't think that Jason Oswell has been right on top of his game over the last couple of matches so I wouldn't be surprised to find him relegated to the bench for a breather and Warburton and Stephenson start as a front two. |
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Post by hermannsays on Dec 30, 2017 21:39:33 GMT
JG's latest thoughts... on fouling, Stephenson (including a brief mention of Walker and Dixon in regards to working hard to get them to their best like Stephenson) and the overall shape of the squad which he seems happy with.  soundcloud.com/user-415776765/no-fretting-about-alfreton |
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 31, 2017 20:32:47 GMT
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Post by hermannsays on Jan 1, 2018 14:26:49 GMT
An attacking line-up - let's hope it clicks between that front 3 and we destroy them!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2018 14:31:07 GMT
I hope we smash the dirty thugs! 3 points please boys!
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Post by hermannsays on Jan 1, 2018 17:53:37 GMT
Really pleased that, finally, our best attacking players are able to be on the pitch from the start. And better set plays, a Smalley brace and Duxbury/OG to capitalise on their forcing of corners makes it a proper team win. Thomas certainly sounded like he chipped in - sure he'll kick on now and show us the player JG saw before signing him way back when before his terrible injury.
Always pleased for JG when things go his way (ie the team that tries to play football wins) so to take 6 pts from the double header is refreshing. He gets paid to make the calls and the removal of Stopforth first half (hadn't been well and on a booking) sounded spot on. Look forward to reading Maccy's report and seeing the highlights!
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Post by forzablue on Jan 1, 2018 18:14:54 GMT
Good gritty performance. Agreed that JG should take off Stopforth but his energy was missed in midfield.
Pity no clean sheet but apparently the Alfreton player who won the penalty admitted afterwards that he dived.
Good Xmas 6 points, bring on Salford!
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Post by hermannsays on Jan 1, 2018 18:48:07 GMT
If it was Daniels that went down it wouldn't be a surprise given the way he looked to go down every time someone put a hand on his back in the fixture at EP!
Here's Smalley doing something I can't even do on FIFA:
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