Alfreton Town suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Kettering, as a below par display saw the hosts claim only a second league win of the season on Saturday.

It was a well deserved result for the Poppies who showed determination and totally rattled us scoring two goals within the opening four minutes. Nti was clipped by Jack Atkinson within 20 seconds giving the hosts a penalty, which Nti converted.

Two minutes later a low shot from Kelly arrowed into the bottom corner from inside the box.

Amari Morgan-Smith pulled one back just before the break, from a free kick by Danny East which was rolled to him. Amari's strike found the bottom corner for his 11th of the season but we never took a grapple hold on the contest in the second half and it was a disappointing display which saw defeat.

The game started in the worst possible fashion with Nti being slipped through in the box after 20 seconds, he was caught by Jack Atkinson and a penalty was awarded. Nti stepped up and converted high into the net.

On four minutes it was 2-0 when Kelly was found on the left side of the box and fired low across Atkinson into the far corner.

Alfreton had barely touched the ball and we found ourselves two down, we attempted to muster a response; Josh Wilde won a corner which Danny East took but Kettering cleared.

The Poppies kept pressing and Jack had to be alert to clear a cross from Skarz at the far post. Ben Tomlinson then had an effort cleared off the line with ten gone, White made an error in the Kettering goal which saw a mix up and Shane Killock latched onto the ball but Tomlinson's effort was cleared.

Amari Morgan-Smith curled one over the bar but the Reds were struggling to generate meaningful attacks with the pitch surface playing its part as well as poor final balls into the box. East's corner was cleared before the second ball in was claimed by White.

Killock cut out Nti's cross with the ball looping over the bar, three Kettering corners then followed as the hosts remained far superior in the final third. O'Conner looped a header wide before a cross-come shot went inches wide of the far post. It was nearly three when two probing passes saw us stretched, before the ball bounced off the base of the post and rolled out.

We grabbed one back in first half stoppage time when East was clipped just outside the D. East rolled the ball out to Amari who hit the ball low into the bottom corner for his 11th of the season. This gave us a lifeline heading into the second period.

The Poppies won an early free kick on the right after Killock was penalised for a high foot on Nti. Kelly took it which caused us issues at the far post and Conor Branson had to clear it away.

Tomlinson fired low from 25 yards which didn't trouble White before Amari rattled the post from distance with a powerful effort which hit the inside of the post, this proved to be the closest we came to an equaliser.

Jack denied O'Conner's stabbed effort in the box before Meikle's cross towards the far post was inches away from connection by Nti.

Dom Smith headed a East corner wide before the game was end to end in the last ten. The Reds were pushing but the ball never really fell for us in the box with long throws being cleared away. Lynch blocked well from Meikle in the box before he weaved past Wilde and Lynch on the counter, but fired over the bar with just Jack to beat.

All in all it was a deserved win for the Poppies but a poor display from the Reds who never recovered from the poor start. A reaction is now needed again with the visit of Kings Lynn in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round on Saturday, kick off is 3pm.

ATFCXI: Atkinson, Clackstone, Wilde (c), Lynch, Killock (Johnson 70), Qualter, Thacker (Branson HT), Smith, Tomlinson (Blake 73), Morgan-Smith, East.

Subs Not Used: Whitham, Williams.

Referee: Scott Simpson
Attendance: 656

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