Alfreton Town held League Two side Walsall to a 0-0 draw and earned a replay, following a spirited and brave performance from every player in a red shirt live on BBC iPlayer.

Three days on from the postponement on Saturday, there were no such concerns this time around, as Billy Heath’s side put in a courageous and valiant showing in front of the cameras.

The visitors thought they had taken an early lead within the opening five minutes, with Ryan Stirk’s corner beating everybody and curling into the back of the net, though the referee felt George Willis was unfairly impeded in the process by Freddie Draper, therefore ruling out the goal.

Willis was tested again soon after, tasked with keeping the lively Draper quiet, the forward made a clever run in behind the defence and managed to work a shot, but the Alfreton goalkeeper stood firm and thwarted the Walsall man.

Both goalkeepers were kept busy in the first half, with Walsall’s Jackson Smith acrobatically tipping Dwayne Wiley’s close-range header away from danger, following an Adam Lund throw, one of many that the away side had to deal with in the opening forty-five.

Smith’s opposite number responded with two more strong saves to keep the scores level and coupled with some vital defensive contributions from the likes of Shaun Brisley and Josh Clackstone, Ofton went in at half-time level with the Saddlers.

Following the interval, EFL side Walsall came out stronger, with a series of chances on fifty-four minutes, a goal only being prevented due to the Reds defence throwing themselves in-front of every shot, desperate to stay in the game.

Billy Heath opted for a double substitution, introducing Jake Day and the returning Lewis Salmon, the pair proving a challenge for the opposition, with Salmon making countless runs down the touchline and drawing fouls, and Day demonstrating his qualities as he held up the ball well.

Towards the closing stages, Alfreton ramped up the pressure with a flurry of balls into the box for the Saddlers to deal with, as Donervan Daniels and Priestley Farquharson were kept occupied right up until the final whistle.

After a passionate, battling performance from the Reds, Ofton earned a replay at Walsall, where both teams will look to find a winner for the eventual third round tie away to Southampton.

ALFRETON: George Willis; Josh Clackstone, Adam Lund, Dwayne Wiley, Jordan Thewlis [Lewis Salmon 65], George Cantrill, Harrison Perritt, Shaun Brisley, Billy Fewster, Nathan Newall, Ryan Taylor [Jake Day 65].
WALSALL: Jackson Smith; David Okagbue, Liam Gordon, Oisin Mcentee, Donervon Daniels, Priestley Farquharson, Isaac Hutchinson, Tom Knowles, Freddie Draper, Ryan Stirk, Ross Tierney [Jack Earing 76].