Controversial penalty denies Reds three points

Luke Rawson's first half goal on his debut was cancelled out thanks to a Connor Hall 95th minute penalty, which saw Chorley leave the Impact Arena with a point in a highly controversial decision at the end of the game on Saturday afternoon.

Luke Rawson capitalised on a frenetic scramble in the box to tap home from a few yards on 22 before Calveley went to ground in stoppage time despite Danny Clarke winning the ball inside the box. Hall stepped up and converted the penalty into the top corner.

The full time whistle saw an animated Billy Heath get booked for his protests against the Referee, with many Reds players expressing their feelings on the decision which cost Alfreton three points in the contest and stretched the win-less run to six matches.

The game started in a quiet fashion with not too much action happening within the opening ten minutes. Both sides were looking to impose their physicality and control the midfield. Bobby Johnson had a shot blocked inside the box before Conor Branson nodded wide of the post from a Bobby Johnson free kick.

Newby cut inside but fired wide of the post before several heroic blocks denied Tomlinson's shot on the edge of the box, the deflection fell nicely for Hall in the box but Josh Clackstone was on hand to make the tackle.

Luke Rawson who made a great impression on his debut, showed great control with a first touch in the box but his shot on the turn was saved by Urwin. George Willis saved a shot from Newby who cut inside again before we took the lead with Rawson tapped home from a few yards out after the Magpies failed to clear a corner into the box.

Urwin produced a great save at the near post after the Reds broke and cut through the Chorley defence, Rawson found Johnson in a central area, Bobby found Dan Bradley in acres of space on the right hand side of the box but Urwin tipped the effort over the bar.

We had several corners which Urwin punched away before Willis denied Leather's effort from close range in the box following a corner from Newby. As stoppage time rolled on into it's third minute, Urwin tipped a flicked shot from Nicky Walker over the bar after the Reds winger's late run inside the box.

The second half brought a Chorley free kick just a few minutes in, however the delivery from Shenton was too high for Cardwell. Willis then held a header from Hall at the far post before Bradley fired way wide of the far post and Dom Smith then headed a Bobby corner over the bar from a few yards.

Willis raced out well to intercept a forward ball to Shenton, before we defended well inside the box from Calveley's nod down towards Hall. Bradley had a big chance on 73 when he was found by Atkinson but a good recovery inside the box by Tomlinson saw Bradley's square ball blocked.

Rawson had a shot saved by Urwin, Newby then flashed a shot just wide of the post as the game entered it's final stages. Bradley fired over the bar following a corner from Bobby.

With five added minutes allocated, Chorley were awarded a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time as we defended another ball into the box. James Jones made a great challenge in the box before Danny Clarke won the ball ahead of Calveley who appeared to go down against Clarke's standing leg, after the ball was played.

The penalty was given and Hall stepped up to convert into the top corner. The Reds were denied with the last kick of the game for the second game running and the aftermath of the full time whistle saw frustrations at it's highest, as our win-less run stretched to six games.

However the Reds will be pleased with the all round performance and the defensive display, but will be left furious with the penalty decision with denied us the three points.

Next up, we face Bedford Town in the second round of the FA Trophy on Tuesday night at the Impact Arena. Kick off is 7.45pm behind closed doors and will be live streamed once again on ATFCTV.

ATFCXI: Willis, Clackstone, Atkinson, Branson, Jones, Lund, Smith, Bradley (c), Rawson (Tuton 80), Johnson (Clarke 90), Walker (Fox 76).

Subs Not Used: Lees, Reeves.

Attendance: Behind Closed Doors