Alfreton Town began a new calendar year and a busy January with the visit of high flying Curzon Ashton to the Impact Arena for a vitally important National League North fixture.

Only seven points separated the entire top half in National League North ahead of kick off. Moreover only two points separated Buxton in fifth and South Shields in 12th.
Curzon began the day in second having recently relinquished a strong lead at the top of the table before Christmas.
Billy Heath made one change from the Boxing Day defeat at Buxton by bringing in Harry Perritt for the suspended George Cantrill.
Liam Waldock returning from injury and new signing Gerry McDonagh made the bench on a day where goalkeeper George Willis made his 200th appearance for the club.
Curzon started the game the brighter, forcing Adam Anson to make a smart interpretation in the early exchanges shortly before Jimmy Spencer dragged one wide from a good position.  Alfreton’s first attempt on goal came on six minutes after Curzon cleared an initial cross into the box and before the ball fell to Adam Anson who’s strike went over the bar from range.
On fifteen minutes, after being fouled following a Curzon corner, George Willis required treatment and was visibly struggling for the remainder.
 Alfreton’s injury woes were compounded when Adam Anson was forced off after nineteen minutes, having been in impressive form and started this game really well too.
Heading into the last five minutes of the half, Willis; unable to kick the ball, tried to throw it out but his effort was short and hit Buckley Rickets on the edge of the box, but the wingers effort was wayward.
The game got its open goal after referee Joe Moss awarded a very dubious penalty to the visitors after Dwayne Wiley appeared to be kicked by Jimmy Spencer after the striker’s effort was already over the bar.
Stefan Mols stepped up, and his pause in run up deceived Willis, before passing into the empty side of the net. The whistle went to end the first half with Curzon deservedly leading, despite the goal coming in fortuitous circumstances. As the players came out for the second half, those in attendance were in shock when striker Jake Day reappeared wearing a blue goalkeepers strip, as George Willis was replaced by David Moyo at the interval.
Partway through the second half it was substitute David Moyo who was put through on goal by Jed Abbey before being brought down in the box by a Curzon defender, for a very strong shout for a penalty. Moss, son of former Premier League ref John, waved away the claims much to the dismay of those in Alfreton red.
On the hour mark, there was another big shout for a penalty, this time for Curzon. The Curzon goalscorer Mols appeared to beat Max Hunt to the ball before being taken out, but again it was waved away by Moss.
The best chance of an Alfreton equaliser came after some smart play from Jed Abbey set Billy Whitehouse free down the left and his deep cross fell nicely for Lewis Salmon who could only strike at Bobby Jones in goal. As the game edged towards its conclusion, a very cynical foul from Davon Matthews earned Alfreton a freekick in a dangerous area but, but Jed Abbey was only able to strike over. The last chance came in the dying embers with another freekick, this time from deeper, Nathan Newall whipped the ball in but it came to nothing and Curzon saw out the match to secure all three points.
 It was a defiant effort in incredibly tough circumstances for the Reds but it’s back to back defeats for Billy Heath’s side for the first time since August 2023  who now prepare to face Darlington at the Impact Area on Saturday. For Curzon, the win puts them back top after Rushall’s surprise win versus Kidderminster.
ALFRETON: Willis [Moyo HT], Clackstone, Anson [Wiley 19], Hunt, Newall, Perritt,
Lund, Whitehouse [McDonagh 83], Abbey, Salmon [Waldock 74] Day.

UNUSED: Matwasa
Attendance: 478