Denton’s double snatches Reds a late point

TOM Denton scored a stoppagetime equaliser to save a point for Alfreton Town in a 2-2 draw at home to Chester on the opening day of the new Vanarama National North season, writes Ashlee Atkinson-Adair.

The tall striker, back for a new spell at the Impact Arena, had earlier pulled one back after the Reds had slipped two goals down by the 23rd minute.

Dayle Southwell went close early on for Alfreton with a terrific shot towards the top corner which was brilliantly kept out by visiting keeper Harry Tyrer’s flying save.

At the other end, Kurt Willoughby found himself one-on-one with Alfreton keeper George Willis, who did well to deny the Chester number nine.

In the 16th minute, Conor Branson’s header from Southwell’s cross clipped the post.

A minute later, Chester led through Willoughby’s solid downard header.

And they doubled their lead in the 23rd minute as Joe Lynch received Declan Weeks’ pass and rifled a shot into the top corner.

Five minutes later the Reds got themselves back in the game when another Southwell delivery found Dwayne Wiley, who nodded the ball across the face of goal and Denton headed it in.

Alfreton substitute Lewis Whitham shot over after 73 minutes, then put an inviting ball into the box two minutes later but no Reds player would get a touch.

Whitham had a glorious chance in the 81st minute, one-on-one with Tyrer, but as the angle narrowed, he shot high and wide.

Time was running out before Denton’s towering header headed for the net.

Tyrer got hands to it and seemed to have clawed the ball away but the linesman judged that it had crossed the line and the Reds had a point.