Alfreton Town 1, King's Lynn 1

For their first ever visit to the Impact Arena to meet Derbyshire side Alfreton Town in a Blue Square North League fixture the Linnets had only one change from the side that took the point in last week's 2-2 draw with Droylsden. Charlie Defty coming into the starting line up in place of Simon Weaver who was side lined due to his recent head injuries. Bench wise Andrew Fisk gained a chance instead of Charlie Defty who had made the starting line up. John Turner back from honeymoon was not included.

The teams took to the field for the now familiar pre-match handshake on a lush green playing surface on the perfect afternoon for football.

Alfreton won the toss and set Lynn to kick off attacking the North Street end. Howie found Chapman with a quick goal kick after a home attack had broken down, the defender passed to Francis who made a run down the left flank but his cross was equally well cut out by an Alfreton defender.

Muirhead for the home side forced Chapman to concede a corner taking the kick himself, his flag kick was headed away by Joachim only for Muirhead to cross again but this time too deep and Howie made the catch. When Sedgemore conceded a free kick it was Crane this time who defended the deep back post cross with Defty completing the clearance.

On 10 minutes when Chapman failed to cut out a through ball which broke to Alfreton's centre forward Cusworth who was left with a great shooting chance but Howie went down well to save the under hit shot. From a free kick taken by Peters, Francis and Defty were crowded out in the home penalty area when attempting to work a shooting chance.

For Alfreton a Cusworth knock down saw Muirhead power a 22 yard drive just past Howie's post, the Alfreton centre was posing an aerial threat with his flick-ons. Crane won a defensive ball and set off on a typical up-field charge but his final shot lacked power and Evans went down to make an easy save.

For Alfreton Law robbed Sedgemore and curled a 20 yard effort inches over the Lynn bar. Two minutes later on 22, Jack Defty went into referee Newman's notebook following a foul on home captain Curtis who was then himself cautioned for entering the field of play without permission after his injury. When Lynn won a free kick 25 yards out Frew took the kick and his curling effort was brilliantly tipped round the post by Evans but the corner proved fruitless.

Camm then had to make a good relieving tackle to cut out a dangerous situation as Alfreton broke with pace with the clearance. Cusworth forced a corner off Crane and from Muirhead's kick strong home penalty appeals for handball were waved away by referee Newman. Crane then found Frew who had a mazy run down the right wing but his attempted final ball to Joachim was cut out by a defender.

A poor back pass from Peters put Howie in all sorts of trouble but the goalkeeper recovered well and hacked the ball away from danger. The Lynn keeper then had to punch away a dangerous ball into the box which fell to Davidson on the edge of the area who shot the ball wide as it drifted slowly out.

From a Lynn free kick Jack Defty under pressure could only head wide, Francis then made a good run down the left with his cross being turned out for a corner which once again proved fruitless. Howie at the other end made a good catch under pressure from a deep in-swinging kick from McIntosh. Just before the interval Davidson had two further chances for the home side when from a deep cross he was unmarked but put a poor effort well wide and then when put through shooting weakly at Howie.

With the last action of the half a promising move from Lynn was ended by an unnecessary offside flag.

t Half-time: Alfreton Town 0, King's Lynn 0

The half began with Peters again putting Howie under pressure from a back pass but once again the Lynn keeper was equal to the task. The home side then forced their fourth corner with the ball coming out to McFadzean who crossed the ball back in for centre forward CUSWORTH to head a good goal past Howie who had no chance, this after 50 minutes.

Francis had the chance of an immediate reply for Lynn when he unleashed a fierce shot from which home keeper Evans made a great save. Alfreton then produced a good move down their left ending with Clayton putting the ball just over. Lynn equalised in the 54th minute when Sedgemore found Defty in the box who took his time and beat Evans from close range and a narrow angle.

For Lynn then Francis broke clear to fire low at Evans who dived to his right to save with McFadzean completing the clearance. Another flowing Lynn move saw Frew finding Defty who in turn found Joachim passing out to Francis but the winger's cross was well held by the keeper.

For Lynn Charlie Defty did well to make two good blocking tackles as the home side threatened down their left flank. On 63 minutes it was Defty who set up a good Lynn move when he found Sedgemore who in turn found Francis with a good run down the left playing a one-two with Jack Defty but the Lynn winger was just unable to collect the return with a defender breaking up the attack.

When Camm rolled a free kick to Crane the Lynn skipper tried one of his long range pile drivers but the effort was well off target. Alfreton now made a substitution with Cusworth being replaced by Hall. Lynn attacked down the right with Michael Frew powering in a cross which was inches away from Jack Defty as Curtis got a vital touch to deflect the ball away from the Lynn centre forward.

The Alfreton substitute Hall was then cautioned for a foul on Chapman. Frew was again the danger man for Lynn when he won a challenge in midfield and broke down the right wing firing in a hard, low cross which was deflected for a corner as Jack Defty closed in.

The equalising goal had inspired Lynn who were now playing with much more confidence. Camm was the next to go into the referee's notebook disputing a decision after an Alfreton attack had broken down. Muirhead was still causing problems for Lynn as he forced the home side's fifth corner which was cleared only for Francis to respond by winning Lynn's sixth flag kick which in turn came to nothing.

Lynn now brought on Bloomfield for Joachim on 76 minutes. Alfreton levelled the corner count with Lynn clearing with difficulty but when the ball was played back in McIntosh put a header inches wide. Another name now went into the book when Ellender the former Boston player was cautioned for a foul on Jack Defty.

From the free kick which was dropped by the home keeper a melee broke out involving several players which eventually resulted in Lynn captain Crane being shown a straight red card, this in the 81st minute.

Lynn immediately took off Francis replacing him with Melton. Alfreton appealed vehemently for a penalty kick against Charlie Defty from a right wing cross but referee Newman would have none of it. McFadzean then escaped punishment after a vicious tackle on Charlie Defty, Frew's free kick coming to nothing.

Lynn set up another good movement involving Camm, Bloomfield and Frew who made a great run down the right for his cross to be deflected for a corner which again proved fruitless.

Alfreton trying to take advantage of their extra man as they passed the ball around in front of the Lynn goal but Clayton headed the final effort past the post.

Both sides now made their final substitutions with Bowler replacing Davidson for Alfreton and Fisk coming on for Frew for the Linnets. After four minutes stoppage time referee Newman drew a halt to the proceeding with Lynn having completed their fourth successive score draw, their 10 men having held out for a hard won and well deserved point.

t Result: Alfreton Town 1, King's Lynn 1

t Attendance: 501

t Alfreton Town: Evans, Marples, McFadzean, Ellender, McIntosh, Curtis, Law, Muirhead, Cusworth, Davidson, Clayton.

Subs: Butler, Hall, Bowler, McCormack, Brown.

t King's Lynn: Howie, Charlie Defty, Chapman, Peters, Crane, Camm, Frew, Sedgemore, Jack Defty, Joachim, Francis.

Subs: Bloomfield, Melton, Fisk, Bridgewater, Murray.

t Referee: R Newman (Barnsley)