THIS was billed as a match between two in-form teams, but on the day it was only Gainsborough who lived up to that billing.

Alfreton’s poorest performance since Marcus Ebdon took over put a dent in the Reds’ play-off hopes.

But for Gainsborough it marked the end of an excellent week which started with victory over league leaders Droylsden, continued with three points at in-form Nuneaton, and ended with their biggest win of the season, sparking play-off speculation at the Northolme.

Ebdon himself was at a loss to explain the end of the team’s excellent run under his stewardship.

“The lack of continuity didn’t help after last week’s postponement and messed us up a bit, but we still can’t come here and perform like this,” he said.

“We’ve been a different class for five games, but not many of the players turned up for us today.

“We looked very stale and it’s one of those days that we’ve got to get out of our system as we look forward to three home games.”

But he praised the travelling supporters who were still singing and getting behind their team at 4-0 down.

The result must have been sweet for two former Reds managers, Paul Mitchell and Dave Lloyd, who is assisting Mitchell at Gainsborough.

“It was a great performance by our lads who worked hard all over the pitch,” said Lloyd.

“We knew Alfreton would try to come back at us in the second half, and the first 10 minutes and the next goal would be important.

“I thought I did a fantastic job for Alfreton and had a raw deal from the club, so, yes, it was a rather sweet afternoon for me.”

Once the game began, the only surprise was that it took 26 minutes for Trinity to score as they looked a class above the lethargic Reds, with the hard-working Emeka Nwadike almost alone in escaping criticism.

Charlie Trout had two good chances but shot straight at Dale Roberts on both occasions – the second after the referee had played a good advantage following a foul by Ashley Burbeary on the half way line.

Burbeary did bring a fine save out of Adam Sollitt in the 18^th minute after Tristram Whitman had broken away along the left and crossed.

But it was a rare threat from the visitors, and the Blues almost took the lead in the 25^th minute, Matty Caudwell’s 20-yard drive bouncing wickedly in front of Roberts who managed to hold it.

But a minute later the inevitable goal arrived. Trout crossed from the right, and Ross Hannah’s looping header eluded the dive of the keeper and nestled in the net.

That was the first goal conceded by the Reds in 361 minutes of play, but a second followed six minutes later – and from the same combination.

This time an awkward bounce seemed to have taken the ball away from Trout, but he regained it and managed to put over a cross to the near post for Hannah to bury a downward header.

Hannah might well have completed an 11-minute hat-trick but for Tommy Hannigan’s timely interception after Ryan Mallon sought to pick out the overall man of the match.

But it was only a matter of time before Trinity went three up. It came in the 40^th minute when Mallon capitalised on an error by Nathan Winder, cut into the area, rounded the advancing Roberts, and slotted into the net despite Ryan Clarke dropping back in a vain attempt to clear.

The second half was a more even contest with Alfreton looking to undo some of the damage in the first 15 minutes.

Whitman brought a good diving save out of Sollitt in the 59^th minute after a neat head on by Mark Rawle, but any hopes of a dramatic recovery were ended three minutes later.

Roberts had done well to tip Hannah’s 20-yard rising drive over the bar, and then dealt the same treatment to Scott Lowe’s header from the resulting corner.

But when the second flag kick came over, Richard Pell rose highest to meet it with a firm downward header – and that was game over.

Alfreton did have a chance of a consolation goal five minutes later when Clarke’s header onto Burbeary’s corner was cleared off the line by Ben Purkiss.

But it could and should have been five in the 77^th minute, and only a great tip over Roberts kept out Trout’s close range volley.

After that, Alfreton huffed and puffed, but never really looked like drawing any reward and will want to forget this one very quickly.

GAINSBOROUGH: Sollitt, Purkiss, Wood (Graves ht), Lowe, Pell, Anson (Leister 81), Trout (Parker 78), Needham, Hannah, Mallon, Caudwell. Subs not used: Bird, Charles.

ALFRETON: Roberts, Clarke, Barnard, Hannigan, Winder, Nwadike, Burbeary, Ebdon (Tiday 65), Whitman (Glass 88), Rawle, Brown (Sleath 78). Subs not used: Reeves, Flanagan.

REFEREE: Michael Dutton of Todmorden.

ATTENDANCE: 429.

SCORERS: Gainsborough – Hannah 26, 32; Mallon 40; Pell 62.

CAUTIONS: Gainsborough – Purkiss 42 (foul on Whitman). Alfreton – Nwadike 65 (foul on Graves).

REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Emeka Nwadike.