Alfreton 3 City 1

Despite playing for 78 minutes with an extra man, following Christopher Walton's sending off, Worcester City turned in their worst performance in a long while to lose for the first time in six games.

They were behind inside five minutes, back on level terms through Craig Wilding's free-kick 11 minutes after Walton's dismissal but conceded twice from Brian Cus-worth, one an absolute gem, before the break.

Manager Andy Preece's rantings echoed through the corridors of the Impact Arena both at half-time and full-time, following his team's ina-bility to make their advantage pay.

Not even the presence of former Alfreton players Emeka Nwadike and Ryan Clarke, the latter booed at times, could inspire them.

There was a distinct feel of Moor Green revisited, the 3-1 defeat in March that went a long way to ensuring City would be destined to miss out on the play-offs.

On that occasion, as with this, Preece struggled to describe his team's abject performance - albeit against 11 men that day.

City never really got going in Derbyshire and were put on the back foot as early as the fifth minute.

Laurie Wilson played the ball to Cusworth and he nodded it into the path of Kris Bowler to rifle left-footed past Danny McDonnell.

The moment that changed the game arrived seven minutes later. George Clegg was unceremoniously floored by a clumsy challenge and a free-kick was awarded.

That would have been adequate but Clegg chose to get involved in some afters with Walton and appeared to move his head in the direction of the midfielder.

The intervention of referee Ian Knee, baited all afternoon by Town boss Nick Law, looked certain to bring about the same punishment for both players.

Clegg, by no means blameless, was shown yellow for his part but Walton saw red after the official cited him for kicking.

City should have welcomed having the extra man but instead it was the hosts who looked like they were numerically better off.

Belying their 19th place in Blue Square North, they kept the ball and were stronger in the challenge than their visitors.

However, Worcester were afforded a way back into the contest when Alfreton conceded a free-kick 20 yards out.

Wilding placed the ball and promptly smashed it right-footed over the wall and past a helpless Kyle Sutcliffe.

But, from there, Alfreton took control and their second goal arrived on 29 minutes.

Danny Reet played the ball to Cusworth and he turned it past McDonnell.

Worse was to come five minutes later when Cusworth produced an early contender for goal of the season.

Laurie Wilson arrowed over a free-kick from the right, Cusworth held off marker Chris Smith and, with his back to goal, angled a splendid right-foot volley back over McDonnell into the opposite corner.

With Reet firing inches wide moments later it all added up to a miserable first-half for City.

Preece's men had the lion's share of possession after the interval but were constantly guilty of giving the ball away cheaply and were caught on the break several times.

Despite the half-time introduction of Mark Danks for the injured Clegg, the best City could muster was Peter Doran blazing over from point-blank range and then bringing a good save out of Sutcliffe seconds from time.

Troy Wood replaced Patrece Liburd late on to make it four forwards on the pitch, but still Alfr-eton coped.

Wood was arguably City's best player during his brief cameo, which saw him flash an effort across goal.

Although it's still early days, Preece will be demanding a significant improvement against Tam-worth on Saturday.