Alfreton Town 1 - 0 Nuneaton Town

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MATCH REPORT: Alfreton Town 1-0 Nuneaton Town



It’s been 228 days and 12 matches since their last win on the road, but Nuneaton Town failed to banish their away-day hoodoo as they went down 1-0 to Alfreton Town, writes Chris Evans.

Boro’s last victory away from home came at Lincoln City on 4 February and it’s been a barren few months for the travelling fans since then.

It looked for a long time as though this could be the match that would end their travel sickness until David Mellor struck the decisive blow mid-way through the second half.

Lee Fowler, a surprising inclusion after ruling himself out earlier in the day, took the protagonist’s role of Boro’s architect-in-chief – pulling the strings of Nuneaton’s most threatening forays forward, but Boro failed to deliver the finishing touch his build-up play deserved.

The omens looked good for Nuneaton’s travelling contingent within the opening minutes, as Exodus Geohaghon flicked on a deep Lee Fowler free kick to Craig Curran, whose turn and shoot was saved smartly by Cameron Dawson.

Curran and strike partner Andy Brown continued to press Alfreton’s backline and, despite some rough treatment from The Reds’ defence, looked to have a growing understanding.

Alfreton fashioned out the best chance of the first half, as forward Karl Hawley dropped off Geohaghon. But the former Notts County hitman was thwarted by an excellent double stop from the alert Reice Charles-Cook.

Boro responded almost immediately to the scare and, after a neat interchange between Fowler and Walker, Curran saw a curling effort flash just wide from the edge of the area.

Fowler’s set-piece delivery caused the hosts several problems, with Curran’s glancing header from a right-wing free kick just creeping over the bar shortly before half time.

It took until the 57th minute for the first clear chance of the scond half and Boro should have gone ahead.

Geohaghon’s long throw fell perfectly for Fowler, but his volley was well saved by Dawson before the ball was returned to Brown, who couldn’t find a finish from five yards out.

The visitors were left to rue their futility in front of goal, as Alfreton showed them how to finish at the other end.

Hawley was too strong for Gaz Dean as he burst into the box and he got to the byline to cut back a great cross for David Mellor to convert from close range.

The goal shook Nuneaton and they shrunk back into their shell as the home side asserted themselves.

The tricky Hawley saw a deflected 25-yarder stopped by Charles-Cook as Alfreton looked to double their lead and a Tom Shaw free kick required a good save soon afterwards.

Boro threw on Ben Hutchison, James Armson and Jorrin John as they tried to rescue at least a point from the game, but struggled to create a telling chance in the final third.

The closest they came was when another searching Fowler free kick was touched down by Dean, only for Geohaghon to wallop an effort wide from a few yards out.

The defeat sees Boro drop further into the relegation zone, as they try to recover from a challenging start to the season.

Teams

Alfreton Town: Dawson, Wood, Rowe-Turner, Graham, Smith, Shaw, Howell, Thanoj (Keane 58), Mellor, Ironside, Hawley (Bradley 90). Subs (not used): Clayton, Sheridan, McDonald.

Nuneaton Town: Charles-Cook, McSweeney (Armson 81), Dean, Geohaghon, Franklin, Streete, Fowler, Smith (Hutchison 69), Walker, Curran (John 84), Andy Brown. Subs (not used): Wren, Anton Brown.