Needham Market's tough start to the season continued with a 2-0 defeat at home to Alfreton Town.
Manager Kevin Horlock started Northampton Town loanee Josh Tomlinson for his Needham debut, with Dylan Williams also starting in place of Jamie McGrath and Jacob Lay.
In truth little happened in the first half, with both sides having good spells of possession, Needham had the first notable opportunity in the 13th minute, Adam Mills chased a through-ball into the box but for George Willis to get there first and clear.
Jed Abbey then saw a shot well blocked on the edge of the box for the visitors after 26 minutes, before Tevan Allen's left wing corner saw Dylan Williams's fierce volley on the edge of the box inadvertently blocked by Dan Morphew 8 minutes later.
The visitors meanwhile looped a shot on the volley wide of the top near corner, from a left wing cross in the 41st minute, while Marcus Garnham was forced into the only major save of the afternoon a minute later. A left wing cross saw a far post header tipped over brilliantly by the Needham shot-stopper.
After the restart, Max Hunt saw a shot blocked 3 minutes after the restart, while a right wing low cross was tapped in by Jed Abbey at close range to give Alfreton a 51st minute lead.
Seth Chambers was then cautioned 3 minutes later, before Billy Whitehouse saw a shot well blocked by both debutant Tomlinson and Keiran Morphew.
Harrison Perritt then became the first Alfreton player to be booked, just prior to a Needham double substitution - Jake Dye and Dylan Williams making way for Jacob Lay and Jamie McGrath on 57 minutes.
Alfreton though doubled their lead in the 63rd minute, a great tackle from Dan Morphew fell kindly for Abbey to shoot from outside the box, whose shot was deflected off target by the defender but deflected into the bottom near corner off Tommy Smith.
At the other end, Tevan Allen picked out Jamie McGrath, leaping highest at the far post from a right wing corner, but the latter headed straight at George Willis on 69 minutes.
Needham then introduced Harley Curtis in place of Seth Chambers, while Abbey wrapped a shot back into play off the face off the crossbar - albeit from an offside position.
Kevin Horlock's side made another double substitution with 12 minutes to go, summer signing Cameron Jessup made his home debut replacing Tevan Allen, with Ollie Fraser on in place of Adam Mills.
The Marketmen then had a good spell of possession, but were unable to avoid a 2-0 defeat, with the Reds switching focus onto Saturday's trip to Warrington (3pm).
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