The view from Alfreton

Below is a report on yesterday's FA cup game from the Official Alfreton Town Website:

STRIKER Jon Stevenson was given the perfect incentive for Alfreton to get through Tuesday night's replay against Conference National full-timers Hereford, after Saturday's first round proper draw handed the winners a trip to his former club Cambridge City.
Ironically, Stevenson might well have won Saturday's tie at Edgar Street for the Reds, when he blew a glorious chance six minutes into the second half.
But United must still be wondering how they failed to win it, after dominating most of the possession, but it was easy to see why the Bulls are not noted for scoring goals.
When they watched the match video afterwards, they will point to missed chances and a superbly organised Alfreton defence - and teenage goalkeeper Adam Legzdins.
The Birmingham City Academy keeper belied his tender years with an assured display, dominating his area with all the calm and confidence of a man twice his age, and one particular save in the 84th minute had the crowd gasping in disbelief.
Manager Gary Mills said: "It was a brilliant save. It topped off a great afternoon for the boy in what was probably the biggest match of his life to date. His safe handling and the way he dealt with crosses gave our back four a lot of confidence."
The back four certainly needed all their confidence to deal with a lively if profligate Hereford attack.
The fairy tale would have been a man of the match nomination for Mark Turner, son of Bulls boss Graham, and indeed Turner was probably the Reds' best outfield player, but he was eclipsed by Legzdins' super show between the posts.
On the match as a whole, Mills said: " It was a fantastic performance. We defended magnificently, and we've now done half the job.
"Over the last few weeks, the lads have been superb. We now have a squad of players who want to work for each other, and we proved that. Make no mistake, we deserved that draw today.
"I'm delighted with the team, and I'd like to thank our fans who travelled down to Hereford and gave us excellent support."
With Chris Bettney and Chris White both injured, Mills returned to the squad, slotting in at right back, pushing Ryan Clarke forward to the right of midfield, and switching Jason Blunt over to the left.
One of Clarke's great strengths is his eye-catching ability to push forward and take players on, and shorn of his defensive duties he again did that - yet it must be said that Bettney's skill and verve were missed.
Hereford wasted their first chance inside the opening couple of minutes when thorn in the side Danny Carey-Bertram received keeper Craig Mawson's long free kick, turned inside Mark Blount, and shot well wide from 20 yards.
Seconds later the home fans were appealing as Legzdins' momentum looked to have carried him outside his area as he rushed off his line to claim the ball and end another threat, but referee Phil Gibbs ruled play on - not the last time he was to upset the home side.
But the Reds defence soaked up Hereford's early attacking surge with Turner immaculate and Mills, Blount and Lee Featherstone all making important interceptions.
Midway through the half Alfreton began to launch a few attacks themselves, and they had one chance to create something from a free kick some 22 yards out, which Featherstone drove into the defensive wall, while Blunt?s speculative 30-yard drive beat the near post, and Mawson had to leave his line smartly to smother the ball as Dave Robinson played Matt Fisher through.
And a piece of Stevenson wizardry enabled him to shrug off three defenders before forcing Mawson into a diving save.
But Alfreton then had a spell of having to get bodies back behind the ball to deal with sustained home pressure, and Legzdins dealt confidently with a couple of efforts from Jon Brady.
The keeper made a fantastic save early in the second half. A home free kick from inside their own area saw the ball worked out to Rob Purdie who advanced along the left and let fly with a screamer which the young keeper acrobatically turned over his bar.
But after the Bulls had wasted their first half chances, Stevenson had the opportunity to punish them in the 51st minute. Profiting from skipper Tony James' miskick, the little striker found himself one on one with Mawson in the right of the box, but shot well past the far post.
Both sides made substitutions midway through the half in search of the elusive goal, before Hereford staged a final assault in the last 10 minutes.
Clarke, reverted to his right back berth after the withdrawal of Mills, made a tremendous challenge to halt Purdie.
Then came Legzdin's unbelievable save. Alex Jeannin crossed for sub Andy Williams, whose header was kept out by the flying keeper who deflected the ball out to the home right.
Even so, Hereford should have scored from the follow-up. Jamie Pitman crossed back in to the near post, and somehow Guy Ipoua managed to steer the ball over the bar from about a yard out.
Mr Gibbs was to upset the home fans - and Jeannin who was booked for his protest - once more three minutes from time. With Andy Ferrell through in a scoring position the official pulled play back for a home free kick which was wasted.
HEREFORD: Mawson, Green, Mkandawire, James, Brady, Ferrell, Pitman, Carey-Bertram (Williams 68), Jeannin, Purdie, Bailey (Ipoua 68). Subs not used: Stanley, Evans, Beckwith.
ALFRETON: Legzdins, Clarke, Featherstone, Blount, Turner, Robinson, Blunt, Fisher, Godber (Ross 72), Stevenson (Duffield 76), Mills (Nwadike 65). Subs not used: Woolley, Powell.
REFEREE: Phil Gibbs of West Midlands.
ATTENDANCE: 1,768 (97 away).
CAUTIONS: Hereford - Jeannin 87 (dissent). Alfreton - Robinson 43 (foul on Purdie).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Adam Legzdins.

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