The game started on what is obviously a great pitch, in Alfreton's impressive 4000 capacity Impact Stadium, but a pitch that was nevertheless rain sodden from the start and deteriorating rapidly by the minute in the torrential rain and swirling gale force winds. It ended as only it could..... abandoned after 66 minutes with football as we know it impossible!

Whaley acclimatised to the conditions rather better, with Broome firing the first shot in on goal from 25 yards. The visitors at least matching higher league status Alfreton and never looking to be in any trouble until stand-in Centre Back Bill Sutton, some 10 yards out in a crowded area, failed to get out of the way of a point blank volley.  Although it was ball to hand and unintentional it's never a surprise to be surprised by whatever decision is given in these circumstances and so, harsh as it seemed, a penalty it was, 1-0.  But just why that should constitute a red card is something no-one, and I mean no-one (well perhaps one), in that stadium could fathom!

As you would expect Alfreton now found more space to knock the ball about, water permitting, in their third but never managed to get through on Tattersall's goal with Rob Newton the stand-out player in Whaley's defence. Whaley breaking out through the tireless Scorer and Garad still managed to at least equal the number of efforts on goal.

The 2nd half commenced with the crowd, even those undercover, now absolutely saturated and the pitch quite obviously now carrying a depth of surface water to stop the ball dead in its tracks and had players aquaplaning 10 yards in all directions on their backsides!  Having said that Tom Scorer did manage to plough his way through to crash a 25 yarder against the bar with the Alfreton keeper motionless.  At the other end James Tattersall dropped low to his left to push the ball out for a corner. Still pretty much even-stevens.

On 65 minutes Josh Bailey left the field after a 2nd reckless challenge and on 66 minutes the referee called time.

The DCFA have met and decided that the game will be replayed; apparently there is no rule to cover this eventuality and each game is judged on its merits.

Tattersall; Prophet; Bailey; Sutton; Newton; Butler; Broome; Gregory; Garad; Scorer; Kennerly

Gemmill; Newton M; Turner; Bailey W