NEITHER side could complain about the eventual outcome of this fairly low key goalless draw on Saturday.
Both sides had clear chances to win the tie and claim the £3,750 prize money on offer, but neither could find their shooting boots and a replay at the Impact Arena awaits.
With Mansfield Town not wanting on-loan striker Danny Reet to become FA Cup-tied, Reds boss Nicky Law recalled Scott Rickards to partner Brian Cusworth.
A calf injury to skipper Mark Barnard and recent departures had left Law’s squad thin on numbers and there were first call-ups to the bench for Under-19s stars Massiah McDonald and Chris Dodds.
New signing from Hednesford Peter Knox was cup tied having already appeared in the competition, ironically for the UniBond Premier Division hosts, but Matt Glass provided a welcome boost by returning to the bench just a month after falling ill with glandular fever.
There was a reshuffle before kick-off when goalkeeper Kyle Sutcliffe aggravated an injury in the warm-up and he had to be replaced by James Lindley, making his first appearance since August Bank Holiday Monday.
The Reds gained their first corner after just two minutes when Chris Walton’s ball almost put Brian Cusworth away but Gordon Simms got back to clear.
Two minutes later a Rickards cross was blazed over from close range by Cusworth but his blushes were spared by a raised assistant’s flag.
At the other end Lindley produced a reflex save to keep out an effort from Alan Nagington.
Alfreton returned fire and Dave Cockerill teed-up Cusworth but he dwelt on the ball and home captain Tom Marshall blocked the effort.
Kris Bowler required lengthy treatment for a leg injury on 13 minutes and four minutes later Alfreton went close when Laurie Wilson’s 40-yard free kick towards goal struck Tommy Hannigan and looped over the bar.
Lindley was called into action again when he comfortably held a free-kick from Chris Adam and three minutes later was out very smartly to take the ball off of Nagington as he threatened to go around him after an Adams cross.
Cusworth went close for the visitors when he produced a neat turn and shot just wide from a Cockerill lay off on 25 minutes.
As the hosts replied, Matt Wilson managed to force the ball back to Lindley as Nagington found some space and within a minute Dominic Heath went past Laurie Wilson but thankfully ran the ball out after reaching the bye-line with the Reds stretched.
Alfreton twice got closer to goal with home keeper Rene Gilmartin fumbling a Rickards cross with Cusworth in attendance but Gilmartin cut it out at the second attempt and then Cockerill’s ball in towards Cusworth reached Bowler who cut inside and hammered a shot which Gilmartin again parried but Rickards was taken by surprise and handled to end the move.
Bowler then arrowed a deep cross in for Cusworth who sent a header just wide on 34 minutes and two minutes later Gilmartin held onto a Cockerill cross from the bye-line.
A minute from the break Chris Walton played Cockerill through but his shot lacked power and was easily held.
In the third minute of stoppage time Matt Wilson scuffed a shot against the foot of a post after a long throw in by Cockerill before Marshall hacked away to end the first half goalless.
Six minutes into the second half Hednesford’s David MacPherson produced a scissor kick effort from Nagington’s cross but the effort fell well wide.
James Lindley got away with a fumble from a corner on 58 minutes, the Reds keeper clutching onto the ball as the home pack shaped to swoop on the loose ball.
Lindley then claimed a header from Adam from a cross from substitute Mario Pedro on 63 minutes after a break from Nagington.
Alfreton had a clear chance to take charge of the tie on 65 minutes when Laurie Wilson’s through ball sent Rickards to the bye-line but a surprisingly weak shot from Cusworth was easily held.
There was a let off on 74 minutes though. An Alfreton free kick was cleared to Anton Brown on the half-way line with not one home player in the visiting half, but Brown gave possession away to Nagington who sped away. Fortunately Pedro came to Alfreton’s aid when he sliced the cross from the bye-line behind.
Home keeper Gilmartin did well to cut out a cross from substitute Scott Ellis with Cusworth homing in on 81 minutes.
Hednesford had a great chance to clinch the tie on 85 minutes when Nagington was clean through but Lindley’s superb parry denied the home striker and after Matt Wilson cleared, Chris Adam was booked for throwing himself to the floor in search of a penalty which brought an angry response from the Reds.
There was another outburst on 89 minutes when Matt Wilson was booked after catching Adam in front of the dugouts. The Hednesford man appeared to go to ground somewhat easily but a free kick was given to the hosts.
Matt Glass got free in the third minute of stoppage time but there was no-one on hand in the penalty area to finish his whipped in cross from the bye-line.
Given all the chopping and changes, the Reds would probably have been happy with a replay at the outset, but they still have it all to do again on home soil if they are to progress past the first hurdle.

HEDNESFORD TOWN: Rene Gilmartin, Gordon Simms, Ross Adams, Ashley Woolliscroft, Tom Marshall, Paul Robinson, Dominic Heath (Mario Pedro, 55), David MacPherson, Tom Ward, Alan Nagington, Chris Adam. Subs not used: Hall, Sanders, Blair, D Brown.
Alfreton Town: James Lindley, Laurie Wilson, Anton Brown, Matt Wilson, Tommy Hannigan, Shaun Doxey, David Cockerill, Chris Walton, Brian Cusworth, Scott Rickards (Matt Glass, 79), Kris Bowler (Scott Ellis, 69).
Subs not used: Massiah McDonald, Jamie Green, Chris Dodds.
Referee: Mr C J Francis of Ely.
Attendance: 448.
CAUTIONS: Hednesford: Gordon Simms (73rd) foul on Dave Cockerill; Chris Adam (85th) diving. Alfreton: Matt Wilson (89th) foul on Adam.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Laurie Wilson (excellent distribution throughout the 90 minutes).