Report: Reds ease to first league win

Alfreton Town eased to a first league win of the season as goals from Josh Thacker, a Bobby Johnson stunner and Ryan Qualter put the Spartans to the sword.

Thacker reacted in the box to fire home through a crowd of bodies before a cracking 25 yard strike from Johnson and a Ryan Qualter finish from close range sealed a fantastic three points.

The game started with the Reds pressing the Blyth back-line into stray passes but scrappy defined the opening ten minutes as neither side could string passes together. Robbie Dale went down with Josh Clackstone in the box but the penalty claims were turned away with both players appearing to pull each other in the box.

The Reds did create a first attacking moment when Josh Wilde's pass found Amari Morgan-Smith in the box, he set up Danny Clarke but the shot was blocked. Amari then created his own opening after winning a header before chasing the loose ball and forcing a stop from Harker at the near post.

The corner saw a scramble with Dom Smith lurking but the danger was cleared. Josh Thacker then had a header blocked before Wrightson forced a low save from Jack Atkinson after a mazy run on the right.

Atkinson then denied Dale with a save onto the cross bar from his free kick, it proved a crucial stop in the game as the Reds took the lead just before half time after a period of pressure.

Danny East's free kick saw Amari put pressure on Harker whose punched clearance went only as far as Thacker and he finished low through a crowd of bodies to send us into the interval 1-0 up.

The second half started well for us and it could have been 2-0 on 48 when Morgan-Smith picked out Clackstone with a cross-field pass and he nodded onto East who poked wide in the box.

Morgan-Smith dragged an effort wide of the left post before Sweet fired wide in the box at the other end. But with 57 gone we did make it 2-0 when Bobby Johnson pinched the ball back in midfield, drove forward and hit a stunning effort into the top corner; another picture book Bobby goal.

Alfreton really took control after the second goal and made it three on 65 when Ryan Qualter was found by Morgan-Smith in the box and his shot squirmed in at the far post to increase the cushion.

It was a case of game management for the Reds as we maintained standards and defended well throughout the final stages. Substitute Ben Tomlinson nearly made it four on 79 but he fired over when well placed in the box.

The Spartans attempted late resistance but Fenwick's lobbed header went over before a stoppage time scramble saw the ball bounce over the bar. However the Reds were fully deserving of a first league win of the season in what was a fantastic performance again.

Next up we travel to Altrincham on Tuesday night looking for back to back wins. Kick off is 7.45pm.

ATFCXI: Atkinson, Clackstone, Wilde (c), Lynch, Smith, Qualter, Thacker, Johnson, Clarke (Tomlinson 67), Morgan-Smith, East.

Subs Not Used: Killock, Bacon, Whitham, Blake.

Referee: Dale Baines
Attendance: 460