Macclesfield clung on for dear life at times, escaping with a point against a shithouse, turgid Alfreton who mugged the Silkmen in their own backyard.
But for a brilliant display by goalkeeper Max Dearnley, who produced two sensational saves in the second half, Macc would have been soundly beaten by their industrial opponents who pulled, pushed and dominated us all over the park.
Alfreton visited the Leasing.com stadium rooted to the bottom of the National League North, with one draw and two losses to start their 2025-26 campaign. Notably the visitors had leaked seven goals in those games, and managed only one shot with 27% possession in their 2-0 home defeat to South Shields last time out.
Like Worksop, Oxford and Southport, Alfreton are another side who seem likely to struggle this season. And while it’s important not to be too critical given we’ve taken 7 points from 12, this must be tempered by the fact we’re yet to face a side who have realistic ambitions to finish in the top half of the league.
With one eye on Monday’s bank holiday fixture at Spennymoor, John Rooney rotated his squad and made three changes to the starting X1 who triumphed against Southport. Luke Matheson came back in for Lewis Fensome at right back, Tuesday’s match winner Luis Lacey replaced the injured Brandon Lee (hamstring), and Danny Whitehead was given the nod alongside Regan Griffiths in midfield.
With Josef Yarney rested on the bench, Paul Dawson partnered Rollin Menayese in central defence. Our bench comprised Fensome, Yarney, Nicholson (gk), Dos Santos, Etaluku, Johnson and Heathcote.
It was a brave call by Roons to make changes to a winning side, but I still believe his logic was sound. Sadly, the players at his disposal were not able to execute his tactics, most notably in midfield, which remains an area of concern now Mendy and Rooney himself are absent.
First half
The opening exchanges were scrappy and foul-ridden with the referee’s whistle working overtime. The away side were direct and a handful, like Worksop on steroids.
Balls were thumped into the box and long throws were hurled into our penalty area like javelins. It was a tough watch, but even tougher to play against for our boys who are still getting to grips with the physical demands of the National League North.
Alfreton almost took the lead on seven minutes. A long, crossfield pass saw the dangerous, speedy Ligendza get the better of Danny Whitehead, but his powerful shot on the half volley was well repelled by Dearnley who showed strong hands and quick reactions to beat it away.
Macclesfield were struggling to get anything going. Rollin Menayese saw more of the ball than any other Silkmen player, which isn’t Rollin’s strength. But the combination of Whitehead and Griffiths in central midfield wasn’t helping. Together they remind me of a packet of ready salted crisps - plain, safe and forgettable.
We struggled to make a forward pass, D’Mani Mellor came increasingly deep to try and get on the ball and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts was an isolated figure on the wing.
We needed to show more bravery, more pace and purpose to ask more questions against an imposing direct side. And when we did, it almost paid dividends. Danny Elliott went on a determined run but held onto the ball too long. However, it eventually broke to Duffy who squared it to Mellor who fizzed a shot against the bar from 30 yards. So unlucky.
We tried to play - Dawson and Matheson linked up well on occasion, and Lacey attempted to find half a yard on the left but was unceremoniously and repeatedly hacked at by Alfreton’s butchers.
As we approached half-time Alfreton got on top. A long throw into the box had Macc under pressure and we needed Dawson’s outstretched boot to turn away a low cross. Then from a corner the visitors struck the bar from a header when Mellor lost his man on the back post. A warning we didn’t heed.
Second half
It needed to be better from the Silkmen and it was as we took the lead on 49 minutes following a rare moment of quick passing interchanges. Elliott slipped in Mellor who showed the poise to glide into the box and pick his spot into the bottom corner with an accurate finish. 1-0.
We hoped this would settle the boys down and they’d build on their lead. Frustratingly, the opposite happened and Alfreton came roaring back. It wasn’t pretty, but to their credit it was mightily effective from the away side.
The Silkmen conceded a cheap corner, it was floated to the back post and Adam Lund once again got the better of Mellor to this time head home. 1-1. We held our lead for all of three minutes.
For the next 15 minutes Alfreton lay siege on Macclesfield’s box. Wave after waves of pressure, corner after corner as the Derbyshire side chucked the kitchen sink at us. But despite being placed under immense scrutiny, Rooney’s men showed tremendous fortitude to remain resolute, thanks in no small part to Max Dearnley.
Our number one showed excellent reflexes to tip over a header, then spread himself magnificently to keep out a low drive following another Alfreton corner. The visitors were rampant - firing in 7 shots compared to just 3 from Macclesfield in the second half. But Dearnley was equal to everything, producing another huge smothering save after Alfreton won the first and second ball following a knock down into our box.
How we survived that 15 minute onslaught I’ll never know. But we did, and the lads did superbly not to go under. Rooney desperately tried to shuffle his pack - on came Yarney and Etaluku who injected some much needed tempo into our play.
However, offensively we struggled to create a single chance of note, and we mustered only two efforts on target in the whole game. A point gained on balance, but two points dropped against basic opposition who lacked quality.
Match stats
Shots on target: Macc 2, Alfreton 5
Shots off target: Macc 5, Alfreton 7
Corners: Macc 11, Alfreton 10
Player ratings
Dearnley 9.5 - had an off night on Tuesday but back to his brilliant best today. Literally won us a point and made two huge saves in the second half to prevent Alfreton taking the lead. Showed great agility to tip a pinpoint header over the bar, then lightening, strong reflexes to beat away a powerful drive in a crowded penalty area.
Matheson 7 - did ok defensively and tried hard to push forward and get on the end of Dawson’s crossfield passes. But his final ball needs to be better. His low crosses invariably hit the first man and he seems bereft of ideas in the final third.
Dawson 6.5 - switched to centre back from midfield but didn’t get on the ball as much as Rooney would have liked. Ironically it was Menayese who saw most of the ball as we sought to build from the back so what was the point of Dawson being there? Dawson doesn’t dominate in the air against more physically demanding strikers - no criticism because those aren’t his strengths - but if he’s going to play at the back he needs to be a sweeper alongside two natural centre halves. Picked up a knock and was taken off with 20 minutes to go. Must be a doubt for Spennymoor.
Menayese 7 - a tough day at the office against a direct and ugly team who had one dangerous outlet in the pace of Ligendza upfront. Overall coped well defensively, but Rollin saw far too much of the ball offensively and struggles to know what to do with it in possession. Let Menayese defend - it’s what he’s good at, but don’t expect him to build play from the back and break defensive lines with a pass.
Lacey 6.5 - started off ok but faded in the second half, and was increasingly targeted by Alfreton who switched Ligendza out wide who had the beating of him. Did well in the first half to win a series of free-kicks, but never showed a willingness to try and run with the ball or take a man on. Poor control in the second half allowed Alfreton to swing another cross into our box, but thankfully for us (and Lacey) Max tipped the header over the bar.
Whitehead 6 - offered very little defensively and offensively. Got caught ball watching in the first half which allowed Ligendza to nip in and lash a powerful shot goalwards which Max was equal to. Was frozen out by Savage when available last season and it’s hard to question the former manager’s wisdom based on Danny’s performances thus far.
Griffiths 6 - back, sideways, back, sideways. And repeat. Put a shift in but not brave enough on the ball.
Buckley-Ricketts 6 - fantastic on Tuesday, largely anonymous against Alfreton.
Mellor 7 - lovely cool finish for our goal and so unlucky to hit the bar for the second time in a week with a thunderbolt. Defensively poor though - lost his marker from a corner in the first half which saw Alfreton hit the woodwork. Didn’t heed the warning as the same scenario manifested leading to Alfreton’s equaliser. Why are we asking D’Mani to defend the back post on set plays against a gigantic side?
Duffy 6.5 - struggled to create and get on the ball to hurt the opposition like we know he can. Wasn’t helped by a stifled midfield and Lacey’s unwillingness to make runs in behind or go on the overlap. Strong argument for playing Duffy centrally to try and inject more guile from the middle of the park.
Elliott 7 - is scapegoated by a minority when we struggle for not ‘working hard enough’ or for failing to pull a rabbit out of the hat. But I think he’s started the season well, is working harder than ever with precious little support. Yesterday saw another assist for Danny and he was one of the few players who was brave enough to run at Alfreton and try and commit defenders.
Subs:
Yarney 7 - replaced Whitehead with half an hour to go and went into central defence, allowing Dawson to push into midfield. Yarney did well in showing a willingness to bring the ball out of defence at tempo. Not every pass worked, but he whipped in a couple of dangerous crosses. And I particularly liked his cheeky back heel in injury time.
Etaluku 7 - on for IBR and produced another good cameo off the bench. Sean showed plenty of fight and drive against Alfreton and takes his defensive responsibilities seriously. I don’t know how Rooney can get the best out of him, but I’ve been impressed by his attitude since being benched.
Fensome 6 - replaced Dawson and played central midfield, centre back and left back during his 20 minute cameo. Needs to be in the team, at centre back, instead of being an odd-job man.
Dos Santos 6.5 - on for Lacey with five minutes to go. Hit a curling effort which sailed over the bar, but at least he showed ambition. Raw but I’d like to see him get more minutes because he’s fearless and offers something different in midfield.