JERMAINE Palmer notched the only goal of the match to give Alfreton a winning end to their pre-season build-up at Burton Albion's impressive Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday.
But the Reds were indebted to goalkeeper Dale Roberts who turned in his second pre-season man of the match display to preserve a deserved clean sheet.
Palmer met Mark Barnard's cross from the left with a bullet header that gave Brewers keeper Dan Holton no chance a minute before the break.
Burton began confidently and Roberts was in action after just 19 seconds, holding Steve Scoffham's sharp by-line cross.
He then held Keith Gilroy's header from a corner before saving again at his near post six minutes in after Alex Britton had found a way round the back of Barnard.
As Alfreton came more into the game a flowing move involving Tristram Whitman, Palmer and the impressive Ashley Burbeary ended with Barnard not quite managing to pick out Palmer at the far post.
Holton had to be off his line smartly as Palmer sought to profit from Emeka Nwadike's great through ball.
And although Scoffham went close for Albion, it was Alfreton who were looking the more likely to break the deadlock.
Holton managed to tip Palmer's bullete header around the post from Whitman's excellent right wing cross on 26.
And central defender Stuart Wall, who could be on his way to the Impact Arena from Peterborough, sent Whitman on another run on goal before Jon Shaw blocked the shot.
Nwadike was unlucky to see a header cleared off the line from Burbeary's corner, before Palmer finally broke the deadlock.
But Burton were almost level before half time when John Brayford's glancing header from a corner flew just wide.
Roberts was back in action seven minutes into the restart with a fantastic diving save to keep out another Brayford header from a corner.
But on the hour Roberts and Oliver Hancock collided as the keeper made a great save from Neil Edwards' through ball, and after a four minute delay Hancock was stretchered off.
Scoffham cut in and brought another fine save from Roberts.
And four minutes from the end the keeper produced yet another stunning save as Carl Wayte cut in and shot.
In stoppage time Palmer had the chance to double the Reds' victory margin after Alfie Ndyenge's strong run and cross, but scuffed his finish wide.

BURTON: Holton (Gutteridge 59), Gilroy (Waite ht), Harrad (Hancock 25, Liversage 64), Henshaw, Shaw, Brayford, Scoffham, Homes (Edwards 59), Clough, McMahon, Britton.
ALFRETON: Roberts, Clarke, Barnard, Wall, Turner (Mills 82), Burbeary, Nwadike, Brown (Magee 73), Palmer, Whitman (Ndyenge 77), Tiday (Glass ht).
REFEREE: David Plowright of Mansfield.
ATTENDANCE: 258.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Dale Roberts.