Alfreton academy side edge nine-goal thriller in FA Youth Cup

Belper were by far the toughest opposition that Jamie Brough’s side had encountered so far, the hosts taking the lead four times before falling to two late goals from Bermudan u-19 International defender Moziah Selassie.

Sam Birks opened the scoring direct from an 11th minute free-kick, but Jake Wright’s through-ball five minutes later lured Sam Lee into heading past his own keeper for Alfreton’s first equaliser.

Joe Brumby’s glancing header from a 37th minute free-kick was then cancelled out by Callum Angell’s low drive from eight yards two minutes later, Belper going into half-time 3-2 ahead when Joe Cain’s 41st shot squirmed through Reds’ keeper Charlie Gatton’s grasp, Birks having struck the crossbar moments earlier.

Alfreton emerged from the break in determined mood, home keeper Sam Gilbert pulling off two good saves from Danny Darlow before Ellis Evans rifled home from 18 yards to make the score 3-3 in the 56th minute.

Gatton made a trio of vital blocks but could not prevent Birks from scoring with an angled drive on 64 minutes, but ten minutes later a diving header from Selassie after Darlow had worked wonders on the bye-line drew Alfreton level yet again.

With 12 minutes of the tie remaining Selassie popped up again to smash a Morgan Brough cross past Gilbert from ten yards, sealing a breathtaking win that prompted manager Brough to declare via Twitter “behind four times and won 5-4 - must improve defensively but WOW - what great team spirit shown.”

BELPER: Gilbert; Lee, Broughton, Brown, Weston, Brumby, Gandola [Parker 60], D.Evans [Dronfield 62], Birks, Cain, Taylor. Subs not used: Nixon, Tomarch, Pickering.

ALFRETON: Gatton; Miller, Selassie, Wright [Pearson 71], S.Jackson, Douglas, lrons, E.Evans, Darlow, Brough, Angell. Subs not used: H.Jackson, Stredder.

Referee: Phillip Carey.

Att: 140.