Alfreton Town suffered their heaviest defeat of the season as Bradford [Park Avenue] exacted full revenge on the Reds’ 5-1 win earlier in the campaign.

Report by Lisa Towerzey

On an unfamiliar 3G pitch in continuous rain and a strong wind Alfreton bossed the first half yet trailed to an eighth minute goal by Harrison Hopper that equated to the home side’s only shot in the opening 45 minutes.

Alfreton racked up corner after corner with Ritchie Sutton seeing his effort blocked from Dayle Southwell’s flag-kick and Matt Rhead saw a power header tipped over by keeper George Sykes-Kenworthy from an Adam Lund cross.

Lund then had a blistering drive helped over the bar by Sykes-Kenworthy before seeing another shot blocked, but the breakthrough would not come for the visitors.

The second half was as different as chalk and cheese as Bradford took full advantage of the conditions, doubling their advantage through Brad Dockerty just six minutes after the restart.

Dockerty was at the centre of a penalty decision that led to Avenue’s third goal nine minutes from time, the same player converting from the spot with aplomb.

To be fair the Reds tried hard for a consolation goal, but all was in vain despite Bobby Johnson, Conor Branson and Southwell all seeing shots blocked whilst Rhead was unfortunate with a header that only just missed the target.

In a late flurry of activity Bradford cemented their authority with two more goals, Adam Nowakowski netting on 86 minutes and sub Lewis Knight rounding off a nap hand in the third minute of added time.

ALFRETON: Willis; Lund, Preston, Branson, Smith, Sutton, Reeves [Butterfield 69],
Evans [Johnson 55], Rhead, Southwell, Hobson.
other subs; Wilde, Wiley, Smith-Eccles.

Referee: Kristian Silcock
Attendance: 327