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Report: Reds blow three goal lead in astonishing defeat

Report: Reds blow three goal lead in astonishing defeat

Amar Sharma18 Nov 2020 - 14:21
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Leamington 4-3 Reds

Alfreton Town squandered a three goal lead to lose 4-3 at the Community Stadium in an incredible collapse thanks to a great Leamington comeback in the National League North on Tuesday night.

The Reds started like a house on fire and found themselves 2-0 up after six minutes, Jake Day scoring twice; the first coming after just 20 seconds as he planted a low header past Weaver inside the box. Day added a second from the penalty spot after he was brought down from behind collecting a Elliott Reeves nod down.

It was 3-0 on 21 minutes when Reeves grabbed his fourth of the season, Dan Bradley picked him out with a wonderful pass and Reeves finished across Weaver into the far corner.

Alfreton started so well and were on the front foot straight away with Jake Day heading home after 20 seconds. Dan Bradley then had an effort saved by Weaver from outside the box. The lead was doubled via Day's second from the penalty spot before the Brakes had their first effort as Smith fired one over the bar.

George Willis punched away a cross from the right, Weaver then saved from Josh Clackstone's header at the far post from a Nathan Fox cross. The third arrived with that fantastic finish from Reeves on 21 and we were in cruise control at this moment.

Osborne fired over the bar, Edwards glanced a header wide inside the box as we managed the second portion of the first half well and went in at the break 3-0 up.

The second half saw a completely different performance, the opening ten minutes we saw pressure come from the Brakes, Osborne fired over the bar before they grabbed the first goal back on 54 and everything the Reds had done in the first half to get the position of comfort, started to unravel. Osborne on 54 saw his free kick take a deflection and went into the corner past Willis for 1-3.

Willis saved really well to deny Waldron's shot inside the box which saw the ball squirm underneath the Reds goalkeeper but he claimed it well. A few minutes later though, Leamington would score again to make it 2-3 on 68. We failed to deal with a loose ball which bounced inside the box and Osborne scored his second as he lifted the ball over Willis and into the net.

We sat deeper and deeper and invited pressure on as the hosts began to bombard us and we simply couldn't break out of our own half and create attacks. Toby Lees and James Jones heroically blocked away from Osborne from a few yards inside the box before Willis tipped over an Osborne free kick from 23 yards.

However the Brakes did make it 3-3 with 86 gone when a corner came in from the left and it led to a scramble a few yards out which saw Smith convert from a yard or so out through a crowd of bodies.

The Reds then attempted to hold on for a point at this stage heading into stoppage time, but our collapse was complete when Edwards headed home unmarked at the far post from a cross on the right in the 92nd minute, to complete the comeback. It left the Reds truly shell-shocked at full-time as to what happened in that second half and how a three goal lead disappeared.

Billy Heath will look to pick the side up and go again as we aim to respond with three points as we face Darlington at the Impact Arena behind closed doors on Saturday, kick off is 3pm live on ATFCTV.

ATFCXI: Willis, Clackstone, Fox, Branson, Lees, Jones, Smith (Lund 58), Bradley (c), Day, Reeves (Walker 78), Atkinson (Johnson 83).

Subs Not Used: Unwin-Marris, Williams.

Attendance: Behind Closed Doors

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