ALFRETON Town assistant manager Russ O’Neill insists Alfreton Town will go to Blue Square Bet Premier Division league leaders Fleetwood Town on Saturday with every intention of winning.

Big spending Fleetwood are red hot favourites to win the title this season and smashed Ebbsfleet United 6-2 on Tuesday night.

However, O’Neill says the Reds will not be going there to shut up shop and go for a damage limitation exercise.

O’Neill said: “Yes we know it is probably our toughest game of the season but we believe in ourselves.

“We matched Fleetwood for long periods in our home game against them and we can’t go defensively.

“Tamworth held them recently and there is no reason why we can’t go there and have a good go. I can’t see the benefit from doing anything else.”

It will be a first trip back to Fleetwood’s impressive Highbury set-up since losing out 2-1 in the Conference North play-off final back in May 2010.

Central midfield player Anton Brown will miss the game after receiving a one-match suspension for his sending off against Darlington last weekend.

Central defender Leigh Franks is back in full time training after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Reds manager Nicky Law has strengthened his squad with the signing of former Gretna and Barnet midfield player Nicky Deverdics on Monday.

Deverdics took part in a behind-closed-doors practise game at Burton Albion on Tuesday.

O’Neill added: “He did well, but you can tell he has not had many games lately. We might have to get him out for a few games to gain full match fitness but he will continue to train with us.

“We may also get another practice game behind closed doors in next week if we can.”

Meanwhile, it has been a good few days for Alfreton Town Football Club’s prospects of survival this season.

On Saturday they came from behind to thump relegation rivals Darlington 3-1 at the Impact Arena despite going down to ten men on the hour when Anton Brown was sent off for a second cautionable offence having already been booked in the first half.

Then, despite not playing themselves, Tuesday evening’s results went for them with the exception of Hayes & Yeading United closing the gap on the Reds to one point after a 1-0 win at rock-bottom Bath City who now look doomed.

Darlington lost again, this time 5-2 at Mansfield Town, and although Alfreton are still in the first of the relegation places in 21st spot, they are only there on goal difference from Darlington who have played two games more.

Alfreton also have two games in hand on Stockport County who are one place and one point ahead of Darlington.

Kettering Town also went down 3-1 at home to Forest Green Rovers and remain in 22nd place underneath Alfreton.

Newport County also went down 2-1 at Tamworth to end their recent mini revival.

Meanwhile, Alfreton Town Supporters’ Association transport departs at 9am and seats can be booked via Mark Thorpe on (01773) 836251.

Pictured are Alfreton players in action during the 3-1 victory over Darlington.

Results

DCFA DIVISIONAL CUP Semi-Finals: Cromford 1 (3), Dove Holes 1 (4) et&p; Furness Vale 1, Buxton Town 6.#

PREMIER DIVISION: AFC Dronfield Woodhouse 1, Hathersage 1; Bradwell 3, Hunters Bar 0; Brampton 7, Grindleford 1; Bakewell Town 1, Holmesfield 4.

A DIVISION: Buxworth 6, Calver 3; Peak Dale 0, Blazing Rag 4; Youlgreave Utd 2, FC United Tideswell 1.

B DIVISION: Bakewell Town Res 1, Bradwell Res 2; Baslow 3, Tideswell Blue Star 2; Cote Heath 3, Stoney Middleton 1; Edale 1, Railway FC 2; Eyam 5, Buxworth Res 5

FIXTURES

PREMIER DIVISION: Brampton, Bakewell Town; Buxton Town, Dronfield Town A; Furness Vale, Hathersage; Grindleford, Bradwell; Holmesfield, AFC Dronfield Woodhouse; Tintwistle Villa, Hunters Bar; Totley Sports, Dove Holes.

CLIFF ELLIS TROPHY: Blazing Rag, Dronfield Woodhouse; Buxworth, Red Lion; Tideswell Utd, Dove Holes Res.

A DIVISION: Calver, Youlgreave Utd; Dronfield Town B, Peak Dale; FC United Tideswell, Buxton Christians;

B DIVISION: Bakewell Town Res, Buxworth Res; Baslow, Stoney Middleton; Bradwell Res, Cote Heath; Chinley, Eyam; Edale, Tideswell Blue Star; Railway FC, Furness Vale Res; Winster Wasps, Bamford.

Chesterfield FC’s Walking Football sessions for the over 60s restart on Monday and will continue until Monday, April 2.

The sessions take place indoors at Queen’s Park Sports Centre. Beginners play from noon to 1pm while the intermediate sessions will be staged from 1-2pm.

Over 60s who would like to take part are advised just to turn up. The cost per session is £1.50.

Staveley MW’s dream season has surged on with the Inkersall Road men reaching the quarter finals of the FA Vase and maintaining their push for the Northern Counties East Premier League title.

Manager Billy Fox was delighted when his side booked their ticket to the last eight of the Vase competition thanks to a 2-0 triumph over East Midlands side Oadby Town from Leicestershire.

The visitors looked a dangerous prospect as in their ranks was Matt Piper who cost Sunderland £3.5m when he moved from Leicester before a series of injuries put paid to his professional career.

But the night belonged to Joe Thornton who scored a goal in either half to take Staveley through.

The opener came on 41 minutes when he slotted in a cross from Andrew Fox while the second arrived in the 61st minute when he fired into an open net following a poor clearance.

Staveley’s reward is a home quarter-final tie against St Ives Town, from Cambridgeshire, of the United Counties Premier League, on March 3, kick off 3pm.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Staveley returned to league business and defeated Nostel MW FC 2-1.

Ian Clarke gave Staveley the lead in the 18th-minute before the visitors pulled level in the 55th minute.

Welfare were not to be denied, however, and the winner arrived in the 80th minute, courtesy U19 striker Adam Houghton.

North Derbyshire basketball fans are gearing up for a national final on Sunday after Killamarsh Arrows defeated London Westside 78-65 in an exciting semi-final showdown.

The Arrows, who booked their ticket in front of a noisy crowd at Killamarsh Leisure Centre, will face Hemel Storm for the Patrons Cup in Leicester.

Reaching the final is a great achievement for the Arrows who are celebrating their 20th anniversary this season.

In addition, they have a history of youth development and a team that has overcome bigger budgeted organisations to earn a chance in the spotlight.

Led by the inspirational skipper Same Spare, Arrows have made Killamarsh a fortress this season, winning eight out of ten games there.

Arrows are having a great season with two U14 players - Ross Walcott and Aiden Dennison - having won a National Championship with the East Midlands.

Pictured are the members of the successful Killamarsh Arrows team.

Chesterfield 2, Bradford City 0

Dean Morgan, who netted the winner in the derby victory over Sheffield Wednesday, grabbed both goals on Tuesday as Chesterfield Reserves defeated their opposite numbers from Bradford in a behind-closed-doors match at the B2net on Tuesday.

It was an opportunity for both teams to give match practice to squad players, as well as players coming back from injury such as Jimmy Juan getting 30 minutes of pitch time.

Midfieldef Mark Randall, who has been unwell in recently, also got in half a match.

Chesterfield took the lead after 15 minutes when a Craig Westcarr cross from the right was controlled by Dean Morgan, and a trademark shimmy created the opening for him to emphatically hammer the ball into the net.

Although Chesterfield were the most dominant another clear cut chance didn’t come until just before the break when Derek Niven glanced the ball wide from Jamie Lowry’s pin point free-kick.

Chesterfield scored a second goal soon after the break and they were rarely troubled during the second-half and made a number of substitutions as the game progressed.

The Spireites second goal came when the Bradford goalkeeper missed his clearance.

This let in Dean Morgan who rounded the keeper to slot the ball home for his second goal of the game.

A third Chesterfield goal looked likely after 60 minutes when Scott Boden crossed invitingly from the by-line but the flight of the ball somehow eluded Jordan Bowery who was in space at the back post.

After the game coach Mark Crossley said: “The purpose of the game was to give the lads some match practice. Mark Randall, who has been poorly, managed to get in half a game, and Jimmy Juan played for 30 minutes after recovering from a calf injury.

“He is on the road to recovery but will need another game and training before he is back in contention.”

He added: “The only player out injured is Gregor Robertson who has a slight hamstring strain from Saturday’s match against Sheffield Wednesday but it doesn’t seem to be too serious and we expect him to be out for a couple of weeks.”

Chesterfield line-up: Fleming, Mendy, Gray, Smith, Hazell (sub Randall 46), Westcarr (sub Waddle 60), Niven, Lowry, Morgan (Juan 60), Boden (Wafula 70), Bowery.

Finally, a much longed for break in the horrendous freezing weather gave me a chance to get a line out at my local fishery, writes Kevin Miles.

Conditions were far from ideal, low bright winter sunshine combined with a bitingly cold wind gave the water’s surface a nasty chop and made spotting a float difficult, to say the least.

But I was in desperate need of some ‘float therapy’!

The water itself was nearly freezing, pockets of thin ice huddled together in the sheltered bays and around bankside reeds, it was going to be a tough day.

A day of ‘scratching for bites’ – with any fish in the net, a welcome bonus.

I was using a ‘puddle chucker’ float, cast to the middle of the lake, combined with a four-foot hook-length and a 20 hook, baited with a single red maggot as bait.

Even the maggots looked cold, barely moving in the box, but still a top bait in the depths of winter.

Amazingly, the first cast resulted in an unmissable sail-away bite and a lovely 6oz rudd that couldn’t resist the bait presented on the drop.

Safely in the landing net, I had a chance to admire its lovely winter colours and tried to remember when last I managed to bank a fish. Fish depravation has strange effects on anglers!

Six fish on the trot, all to a single red, (one maggot landing three fish) and I thought I was doing really well, it’s easy, this fishing lark!

How wrong could I be? For some reason, I couldn’t buy another bite. The fish had totally switched off!

A pouch full of reds around the float resulted in nothing. A change of swims, change of hook-length – nothing!

The feeding time was obviously over and it was time to go home.

It wasn’t until I started to tackle-up that I realised I wasn’t all that cold, it’s amazing how catching fish keeps you warm and alert.

What a fabulous few hours of fishing therapy and with a chance of a midweek session on the horizon, it doesn’t get much better!

Meanwhile, the Young Vanish Angling Club visited us last Sunday and struggled with the conditions, but 8lb of roach and chub were needed to take first place on a very hard day.

For further match information, phone Dave Offler on 07836 570066.

John Sheridan was delighted with Chesterfield FC’s 1-0 victory over his old club Sheffield Wednesday.

The victory over the Wednesday, who are chasing automatic promotion to the Championship, saw the Spireites take a step further towards League One survival.

The Blues boss said: “We battled really well against a very good team.

“They put us under a lot of pressure and I was pleased that it was 0-0 when we came in at half time.

“I said to the lads ‘stay in the game’ and we went out for the second half and had a go and we got the break.’’

The deciding goal came 11 minutes from the end when striker Nicky Ajose was brought down in the area by John Bostock and Dean Morgan - on as a substitute just before halt-time - stroked home the penalty.

The team also recorded a confidence-boosting clean sheet, which helped Blues No 1 Tommy Lee gain the man of the match laurels.

Sheridan praised his defence for the commitment they displayed keeping Wednesday at bay.

He said: “The back four defended well and the keeper made some great saves.

“We could have lost that game 2-0 or 3-0 a few weeks ago.

“But new lads have come in on loan and they have given us a lift. They want to play football and they hit the ground running and our lads have responded.

“In the last ten games we have improved and we have just got to carry on doing what we are doing.’’

Sheridan - who admitted that he never looks while a penalty is being taken - was pleased that Morgan buried the chance near the end.

The manager said: “I didn’t know Morgan was going to take it. He had the confidence to take it and the character to put it in.

“I did not watch it, I have not watched them since I have been here.

“They are, of course, of interest. But I listen to the reaction of the crowd.

“I discovered last season that if I did not watch, we scored. That’s how it was with Danny Whitaker.’’

Whitaker scored eight times from the spot last season as Chesterfield won the League Two title.

Meanwhile, tickets for the JPT final at Wembley against Swindon on Sunday, March 25, were due to go in general sale today at 10am.

Before 8am a queue of supporters snaked around the B2net Stadium waiting their turn.

Last week tickets went on sale to season ticket holders and loyalty card holders.

Pictured is Drew Talbot leading the Chesterfield charge with John Sheridan and Wednesday manager Gary Megson looking on.