Friday 19th November 2010
ALFRETON Town set out on the FA Trophy trail this Saturday with high hopes of a good run in the competition.
The Reds host Kendal Town at the Impact Arena and Manager Nicky Law believes Alfreton can put together a meaningful FA Trophy run this season.
The Reds have a poor record in the competition in recent times, winning only four of 12 ties including replays over the past five seasons.
Law said: "Sometimes the cups can be a distraction, but I do feel that if we can get our heads around it and approach it in the right way, as I am sure we will, I think we can have a good run in the Trophy.
"We will give Kendal the respect we give all our opponents, but it is not about Kendal, it is about Alfreton and our approach to the game. I am confident that, everything being equal, we will gain a positive result. If we don’t we know what happens."
Kendal enter The Impact Arena in ninth place in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division, one down from Blue Square Bet North.The Cumbrians have reached the third qualifying round of the competition by beating Frickley Athletic 3-0 at home in the first qualifying round and then triumphing 2-1 at Matlock Town in a second qualiyfing round replay after a 1-1 draw with the Gladiators at home.
Despite Law's side being favourites for the tie, caution should be advised as Kendal have scored plenty of goals this season including six in a very impressive 6-1 league win at Northwich Victoria who were top-of-the-table at the time.
Aside from looking to pick up the £4,000 prize money on offer, manager Nicky Law will be looking for his side to extend their current five-match unbeaten run with the Reds having won the last three games in a row.
Law's side go into the tie buoyed by a league 6-0 thrashing of mid-table Harrogate Town at the Impact Arena last Saturday.
The win was a record victory margin in the league for Alfreton since joining Conference North as inaugural members back in 2004.
Very pleasingly, there have now been 15 different names on the scoresheet from the 16 games played in all competitions and this is something delighting manager Nicky Law.
He said: "A few weeks ago we realised we were stuttering a little bit and we were maybe a little bit too reliant on just the forwards getting the goals.
"We have changed the training methods slightly, and some of the things we have worked on over a month are hopefully now bearing the fruits from those methods as a few more have now chipped in and that is what we have to continue to do now."
With Paul Clayton returning from a three-game suspension and no injuries, Law has a full-strength squad for the Trophy tie but he is full of praise for the attitude of the players who have not been getting in.
He added: "With a 20-man squad, competition is fierce at the minute. Obviously decions have to be made but the players all know it is a squad thing, we have said that from the start, and everybody has had their part to play so far and that is how it will continue, everything is very rosy in the camp.
"To be fair, we have had no sulking. Players are knuckling down and waiting for their chance. They are getting their heads down and making sure they are ready when the chance comes. The lads are very hungry.
"We saw that last Saturday against Harrogate. We used three substitutes and despite the changes, there was no holding up from anyone."
Law is also delighted with the form of Chris Hall, another who has had to wait his chance. He added: "Chris has come in and been a revelation. Playing him up front is something we have been thinking about for a long time.
"Chris is a good thinker and it is something we have maybe missed. He has never once complained and he has worked his socks off in training to be ready. He did well in the friendly against Grimsby. He was very good at Hinckley and excellent against Harrogate."
Replay
Should a replay be necessary, this will be played at Kendal's Lakeland Radio Station Stadium next Tuesday evening (23rd) with a 7.45pm kick-off.
Transport for Reds fans would depart at 3.30pm and seats would be available by contacting Mark Thorpe on 01773 836251.
For any fans going by car, the postcode for SatNav directions is LA9 7BL.
If there is no replay, the Reds will have another week of rest before returning to league action with a trip to Corby Town on Saturday, November 27th.
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