Another goal-less draw for Alfreton Town at Hereford on Saturday, but probably more important a clean sheet after their shock home defeat to Curzon Ashton in midweek, lifting the Reds to ninth spot in the National League North.

With both Josh Clackstone and Danny Preston indisposed the full-back slots were filled by debutant loanees Connor Teale from Fleetwood and Charlie Winfield from Barnsley, both of whom settled in quickly.

This was a game of very few clear cut chances, but the first of those that did arise left Matt Rhead wondering how his third minute shot from a deep Dayle Southwell cross had managed to ricochet off two defenders before spinning into keeper Dino Visser's arms.

Another Southwell cross saw Bailey Hobson go close, but Hereford responded with a blistering run down the left by Kane Thompson-Sommers that led to a corner.

Another good move by the hosts saw Jared Hodgkiss cross for Thierry Latty-Fairweather to blaze high over the target on 19 minutes.

Further Alfreton forays saw Rhead head wide from Hobson's cross and Jordan Thewlis had a good effort blocked.

The first half concluded with Dan Jarvis firing over from a Jack Holmes cross.

After the break Hobson had a shot held by Visser, the keeper going on to save a Rhead header at his near post.

Thompson-Sommers unleashed a screamer from 30 yards that George Willis needed to shovel over the bar, the same Hereford player then wasting a free-kick right on the edge of the area.

With 16 minutes remaining Hobson's blocked shot led to Conor Branson firing over from the loose ball, then in the closing stages the same combination resulted in Branson's 30 yarder landing on top of the net.

ALFRETON: Willis; Teale, Winfield, Cantrill, Smith, Wiley,
Thewlis [Ceesay 66], Branson, Rhead, Southwell [Salam 90+4], Hobson.
other subs: Denton, Butterfield, Askew.

Referee: Jonathan Maskrey
Attendance: 1771 [46 from Alfreton]