ALFRETON Town fans will have left the Impact Arena on Tuesday night wondering how on earth the Reds had lost a match that they dominated for long periods.
They will no doubt reflect that some enterprising build-up play by a predominantly young side was not matched often enough by the quality of the final pass.

And they will also recall that, after Alfreton missed a penalty, errors by two of the senior players gifted the Pilgrims a 2-0 lead.
The match had been billed as a first team friendly, but Boston’s decision, conveyed to Reds officials only hours before the match, to send a youth side, saw home manager Gary Mills also opt to put out a young squad with a smattering of seniors.
The late decision by the League Two outfit sold the fans short, but sadly this is always a risk when arranging a friendly against a League side - fairness to the home fans is rarely the opposition’s prime consideration.
As it was, only 120 paid to watch, so maybe the stayaways knew something.
Boston included only one first teamer, midfielder Stewart Talbot, but also fielded three players who saw service with Alfreton last season - Richard Chinn, Jamie Stevens and Lewis Brooks.
It was the Reds who ran the show in a first half which saw the Pilgrims attack only spasmodically, and Nathan Forbes’ 31st-minute goal was certainly against the run of play.
Alfreton were particularly lively along the left flank, with Damien Magee in particular impressing at full back, Lee Featherstone his usual busy self on that side of midfield, and Danny Blair irrepressible ahead of him.
Partnering Craig Mitchell up front was the potentially exciting but still at times naive Alfie Ndyenge, and he it was who won the 28th-minute penalty, which he took himself but hit the foot of James Doughty’s right hand post.
Mitchell made way for Andy Tiday after the break, and the former Loughborough Dynamo man showed why he is already well on the way to winning the fans over as Chris Bettney’s potential successor.
Alfreton began brightly, and James Doughty had to be quick to win a race with Craig Mitchell from Ndyenge’s astute pass.
As Alfreton increasingly imposed themselves the Boston keeper repeated that race win, with Mitchell this time seeking to get on the end of Magee’s incisive through ball.
Meanwhile Gary Sucharewycz had to be helped from the field after falling awkwardly, to be replaced by Mark Barnard.
The Reds had penalty appeals turned down in the 22nd minute when Ndyenge went down under Stevens’ challenge.
But six minutes later the referee did point to the spot as the young front man was again downed, this time by Miles Mitchell who at the same time appeared to handle.
Ndyenge’s miss was punished three minutes later. Barnard contrived to miscue a header, freeing Nathan Forbes, whose angled shot from the right went in off the body of keeper Dale Roberts.
Twice towards the end of the half Blair sparkled, first showing persistence to keep the ball in on the by-line and win a corner, then finding a way around the back but shooting straight at Doughty.
The second half began with an amazing piece of skill by Featherstone who ran into the box with the ball seemingly balanced on his forehead, but when he crossed, Doughty got the better of acting captain Emeka Nwadike.
However, it was Nwadike’s error which led to Boston doubling their lead in the 58th minute, again in smash and grab style. He gave the ball away cheaply on the Boston left, and Mensah-Omari Kinch put away the ensuing cross.
Ryan Clarke was only just off target with a 40-yard snap shot and then headed over a cross from the industrious Tiday, who himself then just failed to meet a high centre from Ndyenge, before his clever lob was held at full stretch by the keeper.
Blair and Featherstone combined well, and when the keeper came for and missed Featherstone’s looping centre the ball dropped just the wrong side of the far post.
But Alfreton were hit on the break again 12 minutes from time, when Stevens bundled a header over the line after Kinch’s excellent work and cross from the left.
Four minutes later Blair again showed his paces on the left, and put over a deep cross for Tiday to pull a deserved goal back at the far post.
Another Tiday effort two minutes after that dropped onto the roof of the net before, despite the result, the Reds left the field at the final whistle to warm applause.
ALFRETON: Roberts, Robinson, Magee, Clarke, Sucharewycz (Barnard 23), Featherstone, Nwadike (Harcourt 66), Brown (Burberry 58), C. Mitchell (Tiday ht), Ndyenge, Blair. Subs not used: Fisher, Mills.
BOSTON: Doughty, Harper, M. Mitchell, Chinn, Stevens, Cook (Joyce ht), Nunn (Beeson 68), Talbot (Davies 84), Forbes, Kinch, Brooks (Martin 58).  Subs not used: Millson, Woods, Thorpe
REFEREE: Ian Smedley of Derby.
ATTENDANCE: 120.
SCORERS: Alfreton - Tiday 82. Boston - Forbes 31; Kinch 58; Stevens 78.
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Damian Magee.