Report: Reds lose at Seals for fourth defeat on the bounce

Alfreton Town battled and huffed and puffed but were left to rue missed chances yet again as Chester struck three times to hand the Reds a fourth straight league defeat.

It was the third game without scoring as former Red loanee Danny Elliott converted a penalty on 20 after Josh Clackstone was judged to have blocked a shot from Elliott in the box with his hand.

Two second half goals came as Morgan drove a low finish inside the box into the far corner past George Willis, substitute Anthony Dudley then scored a fine solo goal after he was found down the right, he cut into the box before curling one into the far corner.

The Reds started the contest well and throughout the game played some good football and had plenty of possession in stages. Bobby Johnson clipped a pass through to Jake Day but he just couldn't quite reach it as he clattered into Gray in the Chester net.

Elliott had a moment in the box as he collected a pass from Taylor but we defended well. At the other end, Nathan Fox's cross was cleared before Taylor had to clear a Nicky Walker ball in with his clearance going over his own crossbar. The corner from Dan Bradley was cleared as we had a good spell of pressure.

Gray punched another Reds corner away with Dom Smith unlucky not to make contact before the hosts were awarded a penalty on 20, when Josh Clackstone blocked a shot from Elliott with his arm. The Referee was quick to give the decision and Elliott converted the penalty to give the hosts the lead despite the promising start.

Alfreton continued to press as we had several corners cleared, a good tackle on Bradley denied his run before Danny Clarke was tackled on the edge of the box. Elliott fired over the bar after a sharp turn inside the Reds box, Walker responded but saw his shot go wide of the far post in the area.

Gray saved a low free kick from Bobby, Connor Branson connected with a low free kick taken on the right from Walker but the ball went wide of the near post.

Willis made a big save just before the break to palm away Livesey's header destined for the bottom corner as we went into the break just a goal behind.

The second half saw a topsy turvy affair which mounted frustration on the Reds current form at the moment. Elliott showed good strength to hold off Toby Lees, his shot was blocked with Goodwin nearly connecting on the loose ball at the far post.

The Seals continued to push and Lees had to clear a Johnston cross, the Chester winger then mis-cued a shot before Clackstone cleared yet another cross from Goodwin.

Willis pulled off another vital save to parry Johnston's near post shot behind for a corner, the corner saw a shot fly over the bar. Alfreton then had two big chances as Bradley hammered a shot off the underside of the bar inside the box on 55, Clarke fired the rebound over the bar.

Two minutes later we hit the woodwork again as Chester didn't deal with a Clackstone long throw, Branson then hit the post inside the box.

With 61 gone, it was 2-0 as Morgan on the overlap collected a pass and fired low across Willis into the bottom corner inside the box. Bradley fired a free kick into the wall from 23 yards, Branson then fired over the bar five minutes later.

We blocked a shot from Grand after his late run and shot from a Seals corner, Elliott Reeves went down in the box but the penalty appeals were waved away.
The hosts pressed late on as a corner from Bauress flashed across the face, Johnston then turned well and fired over moments later.

Dudley made it 3-0 with a fine solo goal which saw him curl the ball into the far corner, Smith headed over for the Reds in our final effort of the game.

It was another night to forget for Alfreton who played well in stages but once again couldn't find the target despite playing some good football. It was another what could have been performance and the Reds will need to pick themselves up again and look to correct the form and the slide as we head to Southport on Saturday, kick off is 3pm.

ATFCXI: Willis, Clackstone, Fox, Walker, Lees, Branson, Smith, Bradley (c), Day (Clarke 22), Johnson (Reeves 67), Atkinson.

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

Attendance: Behind Closed Doors