Report: Reds battle but fall to narrow defeat to Minstermen

Alfreton Town succumbed to a narrow 1-0 defeat at promotion chasing York City on Saturday afternoon with a tale of two halves in the end, but a tale in which the Reds couldn't create dangerous openings to grab a draw.

York opened the scoring with 12 minutes gone when Burrow slid in to meet a left wing cross and the ball flew into the corner past Jack Atkinson. City had at least five or six big chances in the first half but their chance conversion let them down with the Reds lucky to head into the break just a goal down.

The second half we improved and fought our way back into the game but we didn't threaten Jameson enough in the City net to come away with a point, despite a gutsy second half display.

The game started with both sides looking to grab control of the midfield area with early defending for Shane Killock and Conor Branson to do as they headed lofted balls away. City were in control early on and were dominating the ball, Bond had a corner cleared away before his second cross flashed past the far post.

Alfreton were struggling to get on the ball as we gave away several fouls which allowed balls to come into our box, we did muster an offensive move with five gone as Amari Morgan-Smith was bundled down on the far side, Whitham took the free kick which was cleared before Killock's ball in was also dealt with.

On seven minutes we had the ball in the York net as Whitham's corner was nodded by Ryan Qualter towards Dom Smith who converted from a yard, but this was deemed offside.

Newton curled a free kick into the side-netting, before the opener came on 12 when Burrow slid in at the near post from a left wing cross to give York the lead. The goal increased the dominance, Burrow was found unmarked in the box as his shot hit Josh Thacker and deflected behind for a corner.

Amari was chasing lost causes and struggling to generate a foot-hold in the York half with our forward balls often inaccurate. Amari did well to force Jameson to spill the ball in the box, Amari looked to capitalise as he turned back into the box before cutting inside, however he got tangled up as York cleared the danger.

Nyle Blake, on for Harvey Grice after 25 minutes, curled a shot wide before Jack denied Durrell at the near post with a point blank save from his shot. Blake was well placed in the box from Josh Clackstone's low cross, Nyle managed to turn but his shot was smothered by the bodies in the box.

City cut through our defence on the left side as Newton steam-rolled through but he rushed as his cross went straight out with York players well placed in the area. The hosts then wasted another chance as they countered from our long throw as Burrow nipped the loose ball past Branson and stormed through, he had Durrell in support for a square pass in a 2v1 situation with Branson but he got his pass all wrong as we survived.

Bond was then found on the left before his cross eluded Burrow at the far post in the last action of the first half which City should have had two or three goals.

The second half nearly started amazingly for the Reds as Amari rattled the crossbar from inside the box after York half cleared a Nyle Blake long throw.

Griffiths then shot just wide with Jack sprawling, before the Minstermen countered again from a long throw by Blake, Clackstone was on hand to cut the cross behind for a corner. From the resulting corner, Killock cleared off the line.

City were getting in behind us frequently with Kempster latching onto a through ball in the box to win yet another corner. Jack claimed the corner but the second half soon became a cauldron of pressure as cross after cross came into our box with Dom Smith, Qualter and Killock all clearing away.

The Reds then soon began to find their feet in the game on the attacking side, Amari and Danny Clarke linked well on the edge of the box with Clarke's cross being blocked in the box. Jameson then clawed a header away from a Whitham corner.

Griffith's produced a dangerous cross which flashed across the face, Langstaff fired over before Qualter was again on hand to cut a cross out late on.

But the Reds couldn't find an equaliser in what proved to be a tough outing in the end. Despite the score-line being just 1-0, York missed plenty of chances throughout and the Reds were lucky to escape with a 1-0 defeat.

Despite this, the second half display was an encouraging one with Alfreton perhaps leaving it too late to generate pressure and our periods of pressure were far too sporadic in the game as we missed out on a point.

Next, we face Blyth Spartans in the FA Trophy 3QR Replay on Tuesday night at the Impact, kick off is 7.45pm.

ATFCXI: Atkinson, Clackstone, Thacker, Grice (Blake 25), Smith, Qualter (c), Killock, Branson, Clarke, Morgan-Smith, Whitham.

Subs Not Used: Andrew, Bennett, Hinchley, Bacon.

Referee: Sam Mulhall
Attendance: 2306