Report: Reds lack bite as Saints march on

Alfreton Town were beaten for the first time at the Impact Arena as the Reds succumbed to back to back league defeats, with Brackley claiming all three points in a deserved win on Tuesday night.

The Reds lacked the cutting edge in front of goal and created half chances rather than substantial openings and were hit by a Tre Mitford header in the first half before Shane Byrne scored direct from a corner mid-way through the second period.

The game started tightly with the Reds keeping their shape and staying organised, Brackley were moving the ball well and had neat interchanges within the midfield. We had our first attacking moment when Elliott Reeves found Nicky Walker on the left side of the box but his shot was saved by Worby at the near post.

Walker then fired way over the bar after cutting inside as Alfreton had a few testing efforts. We were carving out moments from forward balls, Bobby Johnson latched onto a long pass and managed to win a corner which Connor Branson couldn't guide goal-wards with power as the ball came off what looked like his knee as it trickled towards the bottom corner.

Reeves couldn't latch onto a Walker cross across the face, before Brackley took the lead on 42 minutes when a cross from the left was headed in unmarked at the near post by Mitford. It was a half of very few clear openings but the Saints took virtually their only clear cut chance to take the lead.

The second half saw Brackley have far more attacking moments, Byrne had a header cleared away before James Jones blocked a shot on the edge of the area. The Saints came close to a second following a corner which caused a scramble at the far post.

Branson had a shot deflected over the bar with the resulting corner seeing a Jones header lack direction at the far post. Walker and Worby challenged the ball inside the box with Walker appearing to get there first but the brief penalty claims were waved away.

With 70 gone, it was 2-0. The Saints were awarded a corner which Byrne scored directly from, the ball going over Willis and hitting the underside of the bar in an incredible goal for the visitors.

We then had a flare thrown onto the pitch from outside the ground which landed just outside the D. The stewards reacting immediately to clear the flare as we had a brief delay for a minute or so.

Alfreton struggled to create in the final ten minutes, Walker had a free kick which was delivered too deep before Brackley headed away a long throw from Josh Clackstone for a corner. Byrne cleared the corner before a flicked header from the recycled cross by Jones saw Worby stretch to palm the ball behind in the first big save he had to make.

But Brackley were full value for the win and created the better openings in the game and the more frequent chances to leave the Reds lacking the cutting edge in the final third.

Alfreton will need to roll their sleeves up and look for a return to form, as we welcome Farsley Celtic to the Impact behind closed doors on Saturday. Kick off is 3pm live on ATFCTV.

ATFCXI: Willis, Atkinson, Fox, Branson, Lees, Jones, Smith, Bradley (c), Reeves (Day 56), Walker, Johnson (Clackstone 63).

Subs Not Used: Lund, Unwin-Marris, Williams.

Attendance: Behind Closed Doors