Moors were knocked out of the FA Cup in final round of qualifying as Liam Waldock’s second half stunner was enough to hand Alfreton Town victory at The Impact Arena.
Graeme Lee’s men were left feeling hard done by, not only because they produced one of their best away performances of the season but also because they found themselves on the wrong side of several key decisions.
Moors’ starting eleven showed one change as Dan Rowe returned to the side after injury; Michael Ledger moved to full-back, allowing Olly Dyson to occupy a more attacking role on the right.
There was a typically scrappy start to the encounter, but it was Moors who enjoyed the greater possession in the opening stages and settled more quickly into the cup tie.
However, it was Alfreton who had the first opportunity when Billy Whitehouse found space on the left of the box and his deflected shot came back off the post before Brad James reacted sharply to deal with the rebound.
On 17 minutes there was huge controversy. Glen Taylor picked up the ball on the left touchline, before driving inside to unleash a wonderful, curling shot which flashed into the net at the far post. However, his celebrations were cut short when the match officials decided that Rob Ramshaw was offside and impeding the eyeline of the home side’s goalkeeper.
Moors continued to look the more likely to open the scoring, but Callum Ross sliced an effort wide after good work from Olly Dyson, while at the other end former Moors forward Jake Day nodded a half chance over.
There was more drama on the stroke of half time when Alfreton were penalised for a back-pass. The indirect free-kick on the edge of the six-yard area was bravely blocked by Alfreton’s charging wall of red, before Isaac Fletcher appeared to be hauled down by keeper George Willis in the aftermath. The officials waved away the appeals.
Willis was at the centre of the action early in the second half too. A cross in from the left was headed back across goal by Taylor and Dan Rowe forced a shot on goal which the Alfreton keeper blocked with his feet. There were appeals that the ball had already crossed the line, but it was impossible to say for sure in a crowded area and the hosts survived the scare.
The crucial moment arrived on 74 minutes when Ged Abbey laid the ball off to Waldock 25 yards from goal and the midfielder drilled an unstoppable shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Moors reacted positively and set about finding an equaliser, but substitute Corey McKeown fired a shot too high, and Reece Staunton’s long-range drive also went over the bar.
Waldock could have made it 2-0 with another drive from distance but this time James was right behind it, before Ramshaw found space to volley on goal from the edge of the area only to see it flash wide.
Deep into injury time, Taylor thought he’d levelled when the ball fell kindly for the big striker, and he drilled a low shot on goal which was superbly blocked on the line by Adam Lund.
Full Time: Alfreton Town 1 Moors 0
Alfreton Town: Willis, Clackstone, Lund, Anson, Newall, Waldock, Lund, Abbey (Perritt 85), Whitehouse (Salmon 57), Fewster, Day.
Subs not used: Askew, Salam, Watson.
Booked: Lund (38)
Moors: James, Ledger (McKeown 75), Rowe, Beals, Staunton, Ross, Dolan (Harris 86), Dyson, Ramshaw, Fletcher, Taylor.
Subs not used: Johnson, Burlace, McGinley, Myers, Mondal.
Booked: Ramshaw (83)
Referee: Neil Pratt
Attendance: 557
