AFC Telford 0 Alfreton 1 - Report and pictures

Luke Graham's second-half header was enough to hand the visitors all three points in a poor game as Telford slumped to a fourth straight defeat.

Nathaniel Rowe-Turner should have opened the scoring for the Reds inside 10 minutes, but could only nod wide at the far post from Aaron Bentley's cross.

But Mike Grogan went even closer for the hosts when his close range header was deflected over the bar from Tony Gray's cross.

Defender Neill Byrne also just missed the target with a firm header just past the half hour mark from Danny Ventre's delivery.

But the same player had to clear the ball from near the goal line to deny John Johnston an opener for Alfreton four minutes before half-time.

The midfielder had gone clear from Karl Hawley's through-pass, but goalkeeper Freddy Hall got a finger-tip to his attempted chip and Byrne cleared the loose ball.

Alferton had been second best for much of the first half but started the second with far greater impetus.

Hawley should have worked Hall more from a low drive two minutes after the re-start and and Andi Thanoj also drew a solid save eight minutes later.

But Graham pounced to head home Johnston's cross just before the hour mark to put the visitors ahead.

It was a big blow for the Bucks but they went close to an equaliser ,when a defensive clearance deflected just over the bar off substitute Sean Clancy in the box.

Sam Smith drew a solid save with a firm header from Danny Ventre's cross soon afterwards and Clancy tested Jason Mooney's reflexes with a low drive following a poor clearance by the Reds.

Andi Thanoj, Joe Ironside and Joe Leesley all had chances to wrap the game up late on which they failed to convert.

Hall did well to deny the latter two with some fine saves and Smith then almost snatched a point for Telford in stoppage time.

But the former Hereford United forward could only drill just wide from Danny Ventre's low cross in the last meaningful action of the game.