Report by Frank Bridges. Pics by Phil Lucic and Bill Wheatcroft.

NEW striker Paul Clayton marked his  Alfreton Town debut with a goal as the Reds gained a New Year’s Day 2-1 derby win over Hucknall Town at the Impact Arena.
But it was Hucknall’s Russell Cooke who stole the show with a goal at each end within five minutes of each other.
Clayton headed Alfreton into a 20th minute lead which Cooke cancelled out in the 62nd minute when the Reds failed to clear a free kick.
But the Yellows man undid his good work five minutes later when he headed an Alfreton corner into his own net.
After the highly-charged Boxing Day derby at Watnall Road which ended with only 19 men on the field and multiple bookings, Tuesday’s return was a low key affair in comparison.
Reds Manager Nicky Law restored Danny Reet to the starting line-up to play alongside Clayton, with Peter Knox dropping back to the bench.
There was also a start for Chris Walton, who took up Laurie Wilson’s midfield slot, Wilson filling the gap at right back caused by the suspension of Kyle McFadzean.
Former Reds boss David Lloyd had also rung the changes in the Hucknall side which had turned out on Boxing Day.
Josh Law was unlucky not to give the Reds an early advantage when, in the third minute, Cooke blocked his shot on the line after Hucknall failed to clear a corner.
But Cooke almost sold his keeper short with a back pass two minutes later, and Arran Reid had to scamper out of his goal to clear.
When Hucknall threatened for the first time in the eighth minute Phil Senior needed two attempts to hold Anthony Howell’s low drive.
Then three minutes later Reet’s pass struck referee Andrew Morbin and set up the visitors for a break. Howell skipped past home debutant Georges Santos, but the defender recovered to make a crucial tackle back and avert the danger.
However, it was Alfreton who edged into a 20th minute lead. Former Red Ian Robinson clattered into Walton, and although he escaped a card, his punishment was compounded when Santos’ free kick was met by Clayton, whose looping 20-yard header found the far corner of the net.
Hucknall had a chance to equalise within two minutes as James Cullingworth pumped an inviting cross into a crowded box, that one going behind for an unproductive corner.
Clayton had the ball in the Hucknall net for a second time 10 minutes before the break.
It had stemmed from a neat move in which Law carried the ball from midway in his own half into a similar position in Yellows territory.
Law farmed the ball out to Reet, but as Clayton headed the ensuing cross into the net he was pulled up for a push on keeper Reid.
The second half began in lively style, and inside the first two minutes Reid palmed away Reet’s stinging angled drive following Steve Warne’s pinpoint pass down the right.
Hucknall responded with Ben Saunders’ strong run at goal, which ended with Senior getting a vital touch to deflect the ball for a corner, from which he then held former Red Gary Sucharewycz’s header.
The Reds keeper was down well to save Danny Mayman’s 25-yarder 10 minutes into the half.
Clayton almost created a second goal for Alfreton on 59, setting up Kris Bowler whose finish earned only a corner.
But three minutes later Hucknall were on terms. Mayman’s free kick caused problems for the home defence, and although Santos managed a partial clearance, Cooke pounced to lash home from 10 yards.
However, parity lasted only five minutes before Cooke undid his good work.
Cullingworth turned Bowler’s by-line cross for a corner, and as the Hucknall defender attempted to head Bowler’s flag kick away from the threatening Reet he succeeded only in steering the ball into his own net.
Sucharewycz wasted a gilt-edged chance of an equaliser in the 76th minute. Allowed a free header only three yards from goal following Mayman’s free kick, he somehow contrived to head over the bar, to the relief of the Reds fans.
Eight minutes from time Warne’s burst of pace down the right set up substitute Matt Glass for a cross which Reid held before anyone could capitalise.
But a minute from the end of the 90 Sucharewycz wasted another chance to punish his former club and snatch a point.
It was not as clear a chance as his earlier one, but he still should have done better than to put a clear header wide from a left wing cross.

ALFRETON TOWN: Senior, L. Wilson, Brown, Santos, Butler, Warne, Law, Bowler, Clayton (Knox 80), Reet (Glass 80), Walton. Subs not used: M. Wilson, Barnard, Sutcliffe.
HUCKNALL TOWN: Reid, Asher, Cullingworth, Cooke, Sucharewycz, Mayman, Howell, Robinson, Saunders, Bacon, Graves. Subs not used: Kistell, Thorpe, Ward, Smith.
REFEREE: Andrew Morbin of Rotherham.
ATTENDANCE: 509.
GOALS: Alfreton - Clayton 20; Cooke og 67. Hucknall - Cooke 62.
CAUTIONS: Alfreton - Brown 54 (foul on Saunders); Reet 78 (off-ball incident); Santos 90+3 (unsporting conduct).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Josh Law.

Paul Clayton's header drops over Hucknall Town keeper Arran Reid to give the Reds the lead.

Georges Santos

Crossbar challenge.


Bill Wheatcroft's pictures are below: