Alfreton Town: Reds reel from Ross blow

ALFRETON Town and Corby Town will face each other again at the Impact Arena tomorrow after fighting out an FA Trophy third qualifying round draw at Rockingham Triangle.

New signing Ben Mills scored in the ninth minute of his debut only for Leon Mettam to earn the Steelmen a replay after 58 minutes.

But the game was marred by a nasty injury to Reds midfielder Ian Ross in the 41st minute.

It was the third time in the game that Ross had needed attention but, after apparently responding to treatment, he collapsed on the pitch as the referee booked former Nottingham Forest striker Jason Lee for his part in the incident.

Ross was taken to hospital with a suspected chipped cheekbone after being taken off on a stretcher following a lengthy delay which led to nine minutes of first-half stoppage time.

Mills' goal came after Matt Wilson's long ball was headed back towards goal by Corby's Philip Watt.

The striker, signed from Stafford Rangers late last week, was quick to read the situation and toe-poked the ball past the keeper.

It looked an easy target to clear as it rolled gently and very slowly into the net with a couple of harassed defenders chasing in vain pursuit.

Andy Todd had a good chance to double Alfreton's advantage in the 53rd minute when he chested down Josh Law's cross but his hesitancy in front of goal allowed the keeper to intervene.

Five minutes later, Corby were level when a right-wing corner was only partially cleared to Mettam 10 yards out and he planted the ball firmly past Reds keeper Paddy Gamble.

A spell of intense pressure from the home side threatened to produce a winner but a timely tackle by Richard Pell prevented Mettam from reaching a through ball from Stephen Diggin in the 70th minute, then Gamble produced a superb block from Diggin eight minutes later.

Matches played in the distant centre of an athletics track are rarely conducive to classic encounters and this tie never looked like being any different but survival in a difficult game required character and resolve from an Alfreton side clearly affected by the injury to Ross.

CORBY TOWN: Osborn, Hope, Mayo, Watt, Gulliver, Towers, Deeney (McGhee, 58), Solkhon (Hibbert, 54), Lee (Diggin, 58), Mettam, Francis. Other subs: West, Cross.

ALFRETON TOWN: Gamble, Wilson, Bowler, Flint, Pell, Ross (Law, 45), Hall, Howell, Clayton, Mills (Reeves, 90), Todd. Other subs: Kerry, Roma.

REFEREE: M Howes (Solihull).

ATTENDANCE: 306.