Match Preview: Alfreton Town v Chester FC

After earning their first win of the season in midweek, Calum McIntyre’s men travel to Derbyshire on Saturday to face Alfreton Town for the first of two fixtures over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The aforementioned victory came over Radcliffe, courtesy of a thrilling performance in which first-half goals from Declan Weeks and Charlie Caton secured the points.

It was Weeks’ first appearance of the season after a suspension that carried over from last campaign, while Dan Turner made his first start since signing for the Seals in the summer.

The Impact Arena will be the first chance to watch the Blues wearing the stunning new third shirt in competitive action.

The Opposition

Billy Heath’s outfit are a side packed full of National League North experience, after two successive play-off campaigns in the last two seasons.

On both occasions the Reds were defeated at home by the eventual play-off winners, Boston United back in April and Kidderminster Harriers at the end of the 22/23 season.

This season has started with mixed form, after a loss on the road at Southport on the opening day the club bounced back with a dominant 3-0 win over King’s Lynn town before a share of the points at Leamington on Tuesday night.

Our last meeting with the Reds was a disappointing 2-0 home defeat in early April, thanks to two goals from Kennedy Digie, while in Derbyshire an early Weeks strike earned the Seals a point on our most recent visit.

The Gaffer

As previously mentioned, Billy Heath is the man in the dugout at the Impact Arena and has been for over six years, since May 2018.

In that time, the 52-year-old has overseen an upturn in fortunes, with the club improving on regular lower mid-table finishes to become consistent top seven challengers.

Heath is in the 24th year of his coaching career, after starting out at Bridlington in the 2000/01 season, before moving on to Frickley Athletic and North Ferriby United.

The boss had unbelievable success with the latter, managing the Villagers to promotion into the National League for the first time and guiding the club to FA Trophy success, as they beat Wrexham on penalties in May 2015 at Wembley.

He left North Ferriby in 2016 to join FC Halifax Town where he spent two seasons before departing for Alfreton.

One to Watch

Exciting midfielder Jed Abbey joined the Reds from South Shields in the summer and he immediately made an impact for the club by bagging a 95th minute equaliser on Tuesday night to secure a point at Leamington.

The 22-year-old was a product of the Wolverhampton Wanderers academy and signed for AFC Telford United in 2020 before a spell at Stafford Rangers.

The Dutch-born midfielder’s major breakout year in senior football came with Alvechurch in the Southern Premier Division Central where he netted 19 goals and grabbed eight assists in 53 appearances.

These impressive performances earned him a move to the National League North, and his one year stint with the Mariners saw him pick up five goal contributions in 34 appearances, before he was released.

League form guide

Alfreton Town | W1 D1 L1 | F6 A5 | Pos: 11th

Last three

Southport (A) | L 3-1 | Scorers: Billy Whitehouse

King’s Lynn Town (H) | W 3-0 | Scorers: David Moyo, Liam Waldock, Billy Fewster

Leamington (A) | D 2-2 | Scorers: David Moyo, Jed Abbey

Chester FC | W1 D0 L2 | F2 A4 | Pos: 15th

Last three

Spennymoor Town (A) | L 3-0 | Scorers: None

Brackley Town (H) | L 0-1 | Scorers: None

Radcliffe (H) | W 2-0 | Scorers: Declan Weeks, Charlie Caton

Match Preview by Tom Bird.

MATCH DETAILS

The game kicks off at 3pm at the Impact Arena.

The address for the ground is North Street, Alfreton, DE55 7FZ.

TICKETING ARRANGEMENTS

Segregation is in place for this fixture. 

Entry to the ground for Chester FC supporters will be via the Alma Street entrance.