GOALESS AS ALFRETON AND LINCOLN STRUGGLE

   ALFRETON TOWN 0 V LINCOLN CITY 0
   CONFERENCE NATIONAL AT THE IMPACT ARENA 17 MARCH 2015--7.45PM

THE IMPACT ARENA

This was an uninspiring draw from two struggling teams who failed to produce any noteworthy efforts on target in a game of little quality.  However much as though Alfreton would have loved all three points the one point gathered here may prove very vital at the end of the season.

Tonights game had seen the hierarchy at The Impact bring in a full admission price reduction

THE ARTISTIC SHOT OF ATFC FROM PEASE HILL

L-R KEV GRUNDY, GORDON FOSTER AND MARK THORPE

to £10 much to be applauded and certainly something that the blog took hold of for a visit to a club that was really the start of my non league experience many years ago in the 1980's.  I have said in previous blogs that once clubs enter the conference set up they lose a lot of their non league family and welcoming ethos and it does become more of a run of the mill attendance at the game.
But tonight was a great chance for me too catch up with some of my old muckers and I make no excuse for name dropping them. A description of the ground can be seen in a previous blog V Matlock Town.  First through the gate and a quick call into the programme shop run by Mark and Brian Thorpe a must for all non league fans to visit, there was then a chance to catch up with Swanwick Pentrich Road manager Kev Grundy, former ATFC physio and his General Manager Lee about happenings at The Swans.  There was then an appearance from former Chad sports journalist and Rainworth MWFC fanatic Gordon Foster always a pleasure to catch up with him after spending a few years in the press box together in the 1980's.  There was time to get a quick catch up with PA announcer Mr Bill Draper who has now hit some unbelievable target in the 1,000's of consecutive Alfreton Town games, an amazing achievement!

MATT WALSH IN ONION SELLERS HAT?

Before the game kicked off ex Alfreton player who regularly comes back to see The Reds Matt Walsh was caught up with in a cracking French style hat and then last but not least Neil Laughlin of Belper Town and non league hopping fame.
Neil has a tremendous knowledge of the non league scene and its clubs all over the UK and Ireland and is always a source of much useful and information and tips and certainly gets me thinking about new grounds to visit on the back of his advice.

GORDON BACK AT HIS WORK STATION AND TO
THE LEFT BILL DRAPER ON PA!

So the game well it never really captured much in the entertainment category, Lincoln could have scored on three occasions in the opening ten minutes but when Alfreton got back into it their finishing was just as poor as The Imps and the second half remained the same and nil nil at the final whistle did sum up this game.  Alfreton keeper John Mooney is worth a mention the man is a mountain he must be 6ft 6in in height and his thick set indeed he must look a major obstacle when a striker hares down on goal.
This point though has been added to The Reds all important safety total, whatever it ends up being, and if they achieve safety it really must be time for the awarders of the manager of the season for the conference to look no further than what Nicky Law has done here.  Its time these awards were looked at with a wider parameter than just winning the title Law is well on the way to another fantastic season here lets hope Alfreton can achieve safety and then get campaigning for him.
With around 140 Lincoln fans in tonight's crowd of 744 and probably a normal Alfreton following for midweek of 450 I would guess The Reds saw another 150 fans on the game tonight by dropping the price and they probably bought food, 50/50 and drinks too hopefully this exercise will be repeated had it not have been for Derby, Chesterfield and Mansfield being at home I believe the gate would have been even bigger.
This blog marks the 50th entry from the start of November and I would just like to thank all supporters, non league fans, the clubs involved in the games covered and my right hand man for Facebook and Twitter Mr Barry Dyke THANK YOU all for your support I hope its enjoyable and of interest I'm certainly enjoying the experience.

WARM UP ON A COLD NIGHT