21-07-12: Alfreton Town (a) 2-0 (HT 0-0) Crowd (830)

Programme:

The first half was a tight affair but after weathering an early storm from the hosts the Leeds youngsters finally imposed themselves and settled into a measured passing game. They did not have it all their own way as Alfreton created chances throughout the ninety minutes, and saw a late header hit a post. They also had the ball in the net twice, but both efforts were adjudged offside, and their profligacy cost them dearly in the end. The home team began in very confident fashion, stringing passes together and gaining good progress and after just five minutes Nathan Arnold held off a challenge from a Leeds defender and got in an angled eight-yard shot which Leeds keeper Paul Rachubka kept out with his legs. Seven minutes later Arnold cut across the edge of the penalty area and forced a smart low save from Rachubka with a well-struck shot. Ross Killock went very close for United with a downward header which cleared the left-hand post by inches from a curling Zac Thompson free-kick. There was a fierce battle in midfield with Dan Bradley and Anton Brown prominent for the home team but Brown paid the penalty and had to leave the field with bruised toes and had to be replaced by Daniel Meadows after thirty-four minutes. But considering the midfield battle their was very little work for either keeper as the game remained goal-less at half-time. After the break The left wing Trialist used in the first half gave way to another Trialist for the second half and hosts began the half well as Nathan Arnold twice found space in the penalty area but both his shots lacked firepower.Leeds should have taken the lead in the fifty-first minute after Darran Kempson was adjudged to have fouled Simon Lenighan in the area. However, Alfreton's new goalkeeper Phil Barnes saved Zac Thompson's penalty when he produced an outstanding stop and then keep out Thompson's close range follow up. Four minutes later Simon Russell was replaced by another Trialist. But Leeds were not to be denied and they took the lead on the hour when the lively Dominic Poleon burst through from the right past Darran Kempson and fired in a low shot past Barnes from ten yards. Paul Clayton then came on for Alfreton taking the place of the striker Trialist. Eight minutes later Jordan Snodin came on for Charlie Clamp and just two minutes later Leeds doubled their lead when Thompson's curling ball through the penalty area arriving at the feet of Lewis Turner at the far post and he made no mistake as he fired the ball into the roof of the net. Leeds had looked the sharper of the two teams since the break but Alfreton battled well and continued to create chances to the end, unfortunately none of which were taken, substitute trialist Tom Denton going the closest with a header which came back off the inside of the far post and rebounded into the grateful arms of Paul Rachubka. Monty Gimpel replaced Sam Byram after eighty-one minutes and three minutes later Sanchez Payne came on for Simon Lenighan, leaving goalkeeper Eric Grimes and Scott Harrison unused on the Leeds bench. The official attendance was 830 and Rob Shoebridge of Ripley was the referee.