Despite going into the match off the back of Saturday's home loss to Kidderminster, Alfreton Town headed to into Tuesday night's fixture having won the last four away fixtures across league and cup. Their hosts for the evening were enjoying a rich rein of form themselves having beat Hereford and Southport either side of progressing into the FA Trophy Quarter Finals via a penalty shootout against National League side Boston United.

Ahead of the game Billy Heath made two changes to his side in his 300th game in charge of the Reds, by bringing back in Liam Waldock and Max Hunt into the side.

The match started as tightly as you'd expect between two sides separated by just two points that have already played each other three times this season. The first effort on goal came from Alfreton on the tenth minute when Gerry McDonagh brought the ball down well inside the area but his shot was taken off balance and didn't trouble Brad James in goal. Sam Osborne looked dangerous in the early stages in his second appearance for the club and his cross had to be dealt with by James on twelve minutes. Minutes later Osborne turned Olly Dyson who committed a cynical foul and became the first player to enter referee Darius Bradley's book.

In the twenty-second minute Spennymoor's had their first attacking involvement after an in-swinging cross from the left hand side was just too heavy for club legend Glen Taylor and the score remained level. The deadlock was then broken when Alfreton struggled to clear their lines and the ball came to Cory McKeown who cut well inside onto his right foot and fired into the far bottom right corner. Alfreton going behind despite their strong start.

Spennymoor doubled their lead shortly after. Following a free-kick not being dealt with initially, Reece Staunton's cross was met by an unmarked Callum Ross on the edge of Alfreton's six-yard box to tap in.

Alfreton had a bright opening just before the end of the half when Adam Lund cleverly won the ball back in the attacking third and played through Osborne but his touch was too heavy and rolled through to James. That was the remainder of the action in the first half and Alfreton went into the break trailing by two goals despite starting the game the brighter.

Into the second half and it was Alfreton again that started the brighter. Osborne pulled an early shot wide before minutes later McDonagh expertly brought down a long ball and earned his side a corner. Unfortunately Osborne's corner was overhit and the pressure was relieved for Spennymoor.

Shortly after, as they did in the first half, Spennymoor scored against the run of play. McKeown's cross was blocked but for it to loop over Jake Askew for Glen Taylor to poke in on the line.

On the sixty sixth minute, a back tracking Spennymoor defender managed to smashed the ball onto his own bar from 6 yards and just when it was going to be one of those nights that nothing went in, George Cantrill knocked it back goal wards and Salmon flicked into the net to get Alfreton off the mark.

Unfortunately it was just a consolation, and Spennymoor were able to see out the result and secure all three points.

Up next for Alfreton is a further two away trips to Hereford and South Shields.