First time for everything

If a striker hit a ball into a beach ball which then deflected past the goalkeeper and in to the net...so what? It’s already happened. If a player got sent off for biting his opponents shoulder...so what? It’s already happened.  If Alfreton Town played Bristol Rovers in a Conference match...now we’re talking. There are very few firsts in football anymore, but last night saw the two teams meet for the first time ever, such has been the historical gulf between the clubs.

In January 2002, Nathan Ellington scored a hat-trick as Third Division Bristol Rovers knocked Premiership Derby County out of the FA Cup at Pride Park. They became the first side at that level to beat top flight opponents on their home turf. In the same season, Alfreton Town were winning the Northern Counties (East) League. 

Rovers enter the Football League in 1920 and stayed their for 94 years, until relegation from League Two last season. Alfreton joined the Conference in 2011 after winning the Conference North. It was now time for these two teams to forget history and do battle.  

It was a disgusting night for football at the Impact Arena. The Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke warned his team beforehand about the “slopey” and “boggy” pitch his team would have to play on. The pitch actually played remarkably well considering the amount of rain that fell on it all evening.

Over 300 hardy souls made the long journey up from the south west to watch their beloved Gas. Lots of football league clubs would kill for that level of support. In a rare move, the ground enforced a strict segregation. Usually, the fans cross over at half time to ensure they can roar their team on at the end they’re attacking. There was none of that last night.

The majority of Rovers supporters were on the terrace behind the goal, huddled under the bit of shelter the stand offered. There were a lucky few who had seats under cover by the side of the pitch. At the other end, some brave Alfreton fans stood behind the uncovered goal cheering their team on. Some had umbrellas, others, sadly didn’t. They personified the commitment involved with non-league football.

It was a game that had 0-0 written all over it beforehand. Rovers have adapted fairly well to life in the Conference but are very shy in front of goal which will be their undoing if they don’t get promoted. Alfreton have struggled this season but their home form has been good in recent weeks.

Alfreton’s Anthony Howell saw an ambitious shot go off target in the first half. Nothing wrong with that though according to the Alfreton faithful: “If you don’t shoot, you don’t score” said one Reds fan to his mate. He’d obviously never seen me try to deal with a back-pass on a bobbly pitch.

It was an even first half. Dan Bradley had a long range effort fantastically saved by Football League stalwart Steve Mildenhall. The follow up went in but the linesman had flagged for offside.

It was hard to take my eyes away from Bristol Rovers’ central midfielder Stuart Sinclair, or “the Bearded Viking” as one fan described him. He’s only small but his appearance gives him presence. He has an uncanny resemblance to WWE wrestler Daniel Bryan.

  

He had a fairly quiet game but he was always showing for the ball and quick to get a toe in when his team needed a tackle. He looks a tidy player at this level.

As the second half went on, Alfreton sensed that a draw against their promotion chasing rivals would represent a very good point. Rovers were the team who were chasing the win, but aside from a few decent saves from Cameron Dawson, they didn’t threaten too much and looked like a side who had only scored 21 goals in 18 games.

Anthony Howell had a bad few minutes in the second half and this sparked debate in the Alfreton stands:

“Oh get him off Nicky (Law, the manager)” shouted one man. It got a heated reply from a bloke sat about 7 seats away.
“Oh shut up ya bloody idiot!” he replied.
“Why?” the heckler demanded.
“Cause you’re a bloody idiot!” the man responded.

The argument went on about whether it’s beneficial to criticise players whilst they’re trying their best for the team. On the pitch, it was a similar pattern of Bristol Rovers attacking; the ball would end up in the hands of the Alfreton keeper who kicked it straight back up-field only for it to come immediately back. Repeat. The Rovers defence were impressive, comfortably dealing with all of Alfreton’s long balls, but they need a better strike force to get out of this league and back to where they belong.

Frustration was growing in the Bristol end, and it climaxed with a poor corner from Lee Mansell. One fan went apoplectic with rage and in no uncertain terms told him he wasn’t very good at taking corners.

Alfreton held on for the goalless draw and the general consensus was that it was a very valuable point. The majority of Rovers fans emptied the stands the moment the ref blew his whistle. It was no evening to be hanging about.

It may have been a first league meeting between the two teams, but when fans are asked to recall their top five favourite games, this one wouldn’t come first in anyone’s list. It probably wouldn’t even come 101^st