Boro’s six-match unbeaten run ended with a disappointing and dramatic 2-1 loss at relegation threatened Alfreton Town. The hosts who had beaten 3rd placed Merthyr Town three days earlier, had the better attacking threat in an evenly contested game, while Boro had lots of possession, but rarely tested home keeper Harry Burgoyne, who was sensationally sent off in the last minute, forcing the introduction of 18-year-old rookie keeper James Wright for a tense six minutes of stoppage time.
Boro played some good passing football, but lacked a cutting edge. Alex Purver passed forward to Rio Allan who was tackled by Max Hunt, Dom Tear teed up Harry Green who cut into the box, but was halted by a Sam Newell tackle, and Ste Walker blazed over. For the hosts, skipper Adam Lund fired over, Purver cleared when Josh Ayres raced into the area, and McCann forced a good diving save from Ryan Whitley, with Newell striking the rebound against the post.
Alfreton went ahead when a free kick from the right was headed goalwards, Whitley pulled off a terrific save, but the loose ball was slammed home by Jo Cummings. Boro tried to fight back, Green danced past a defender and squared to Walker, whose shot was blocked by Cummings, then Tear glanced a header wide from a Walker cross. Green had a shot deflected wide by George Cantrill and a Kieran Weledji ball into the goalmouth was cleared by Hunt. Jake Hull hacked clear when Ayres charged forward for Alfreton, and McCann drove a free kick into the Boro wall.
Alfreton began the second half on top, Purver tackled McCann as he ran into the area, then McCann screwed wide, before they doubled their lead when Billy Fewster got to the byeline, shrugged off two weak challenges and passed into the goalmouth for Ayres to tap home. Again Boro pushed forward, Lund blocked a Walker shot and Tear was tackled by Hunt in the area. Changes from the bench improved Boro’s foreword play, Luca Colville sending some good through-balls and Theo Chapman injecting pace down the left. Alex Brown forced a good save from Burgoyne, with Richie Bennett hitting the side-netting from the rebound.
Alfreton defended well and looked dangerous on the break, McCann drilled wide and Whitley saved a Luke Alker strike. Boro ended with a four man attack, Cantrill tackled Chapman when he jinked into the area, then another pacy Chapman dribble ended with him being fouled in the box, with Colville firing the spot kick into the top right corner, to reduce the arrears, but the keeper then held on to the ball, and appeared to elbow Bennett who was trying to get the ball back ready for the kick-off. The ref brandished a red card, and the hosts brought on rookie keeper Wright for the six added minutes, during which Brown fired wide and Hull headed over as Alfreton held out for the win.
