Report by Kev Miles. Phil Lucic's and Dave Purseglove's match pics here

ALFRETON Town’s seven-game unbeaten run in the league predictably ended against a Droylsden side who really have become a thorn in Alfreton’s side.
Victory for the Bloods - achieved with ten men from the 56th minute onwards - extended their stranglehold over the Reds to four straight wins at the Impact Arena in Blue Square North.
And the loss also brought the end of Alfreton’s five game unbeaten league record at home this season.
Manager Nicky Law had major selection problems with Paul Ellender and Simon Marples out injured, Jordan Hall serving the second of a three match ban and Tony Butler sitting out a one match suspension.
With the only other centre back at the club Matt Wilson, also suspended whilst on loan at Worksop, Law opted for Leo Fortune-West to partner Martin McIntosh in central defence and Danny Mayman was handed the right back spot.
For the second week running Law could only muster four substitutes, one of which was a first competitive call-up for young central defender Aden Flint, 19, who has been playing for Pinxton FC in the Central Midlands League.
Despite the square pegs in round holes, manager Law opted for an attacking 4-3-3 formation with Liam Hearn coming in for his first start in place of Paul Clayton who was on the bench along with Ben Muirhead.
In a blustery, swirling wind both sides had good possession in the first half but the Reds looked far more dangerous despite the midfield looking somewhat lightweight with Tom Curtis needing far more support from Josh Law and Kris Bowler.
Alfreton began strongly and Brian Cusworth had a shot blocked by Liam Brownhill after just 43 seconds.
As the Reds kept up the early momentum Hearn’s persistence won the second of six first half corners before a Curtis cross from the right flicked off the head of Colin Cryan into the path of McIntosh whose header was no more than a foot over the bar.
For all the good start though it was Droylsden who snatched a fifth minute lead against the run of play when Steve Pickford’s low cross from the right was allowed to travel through the home penalty area and came back off the base of the far post and CARL LAMB steered in from very close range.
Alfreton hit back again and from a McIntosh free-kick Cusworth’s header down saw Hearn unable to direct his header on target and after Danny Davidson returned the ball back in Josh Law headed narrowly over.
Former Red Ashley Burbeary was prominent early on down the visitors’ left and a 25-yard left-footed chipped effort dropped just over the far angle with Tom Evans stranded.
Fortune-West produced a superb interception to stop a Neil Sorvel through-ball reaching Burbeary in the penalty area before Alfreton responded by drawing level on 15 minutes.
Cusworth had the Droylsden defence panicking every time the ball went to him in the air and after he had won another header, LIAM HEARN picked up the flick on and nonchalantly nutmegged visiting keeper Craig Mawson from 12-yards for his first goal for the club.
The home side went close again when Kris Bowler’s driven free-kick was deflected narrowly over the top by McIntosh.
Evans produced a smart reaction save on 22 minutes when from Burbeary’s cross, Pickford’s drilled shot flicked off Anton Brown and forced the home keeper into a fine one-handed save.
Pickford picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Bowler on the half hour with McIntosh blasting the free-kick into the wall.
Cusworth flicked on Brown’s left flank cross but Davidson stabbed just wide then a Cusworth shot was deflected buy Sorvel for a corner from which Fortune-West sent in a powerful downward header which was held by Mawson on the line.
Conditions worsened for the second half with steady fine drizzle falling.
Alfreton’s annoyance at Wakefield-based assistant Robert Sherwood, some ten yards behind play when the ball was sent through, for allowing substitute Domaine Rouse to advance when clearly yards offside was tempered by their relief at the Droylsden man firing into the side netting.
The Reds went close again when from a Law corner, Fortune-West headed down and Hearn headed narrowly wide before Bowler unluckily overran the ball at the end of a sweeping 60-yards Reds move.
Fortune-West was booked for a foul on McGuire but on 56 minutes the visitors were down to ten men when Pickford’s second yellow for a foul on McIntosh earned him a red card.
The second half continued to degenerate into a scrappy affair but the Reds scented victory and after Cusworth’s shot had diverted off Cryan into the arms of Mawson they took the lead on 68 minutes when DANNY DAVIDSON steered home from very close range after Mawson had saved his initial shot at the end of a spell of Reds domination.
Alfreton - and Mayman in particular - were probably glad to see the back of the impressive Burbeary who was replaced on 70 minutes after being booked for retaliation against Bowler.
A minute later the Bloods had another player booked when Cryan fouled Cusworth.
The visitors had settled themselves well and the runs of ROUSE kept the home defence on their toes until he smacked in an unlikely equaliser through a ruck of players from just inside the penalty area on 79 minutes with the Reds defence guilty of not clearing a free kick from Sean Newton.
Muirhead replaced Hearn and Clayton came on for Cusworth but the Reds were still trying to adjust to the changes when Droylsden were handed the winner on 83 minutes.
McIntosh and Brown’s hesitancy proved fatal as both left the ball to each other deep in the area and by the time Brown’s attempts to cut out the cross into the area had flicked away from him, KEVIN TOWNSON was left completely ummarked six yards out to steer his shot under Tom Evans to seal a dogged fight-back by the ten men.
Clayton produced a late run to the bye-line and cross to the far post but Adam Dugdale prevented any share of the spoils with a clearing header off the line just under the bar.
Rouse was involved in the last piece of action when he became the fourth player booked for the visitors on 92+2 minutes for kicking the ball away.
Losing 3-2 at home to ten men was obviously disappointing for everyone, but it was only a second league defeat in 11 games, the squad is threadbare at the moment and the strength will vastly improve once the absentees return.
In the end all the promise of the first half wasn’t built on and it just wasn’t Alfreton’s day against Droylsden, again.

ALFRETON TOWN: Tom Evans, Danny Mayman, Anton Brown, Leo Fortune-West, Martin McIntosh, Tom Curtis, Josh Law, Kris Bowler, Brian Cusworth (Paul Clayton 82), Liam Hearn (Ben Muirhead 82), Danny Davidson.
Subs not used: Aden Flint, Kyle Sutcliffe.
DROYLSDEN: Craig Mawson, Liam Brownhill, Sean Newton, Adam Dugdale, Colin Cryan, Neil Sorvel, Steve Pickford, Jamie McGuire (Steve Beck 68), Carl Lamb (Domaine Rouse, h/t), Kevin Townson, Ashley Burbeary (Alex Brown, 70). Subs not used: Jamie Tandy, Lee Roche, .
ATTENDANCE: 318.
REFEREE: Mr Ricky Wootton of Wakefield.
GOALS: Alfreton Town - Liam Hearn (15), Danny Davidson (68). Droylsden - Carl Lamb (5), Domaine Rouse (79), Kevin Townson (83).
CAUTIONS: Alfreton Town - McIntosh (43, foul on Townson); Leo Fortune-West (53, foul on McGuire). Droylsden - Pickford (30, foul on Bowler); Burbeary (70, retaliation); Cryan (71, foul on Cusworth); Rouse (90+2, kicking ball away).
RED CARD: Droylsden - Steve Pickford (56, second yellow card).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Brian Cusworth