ALFRETON recorded their first win in five matches at troubled Lancaster City thanks to two first half goals by Ryan Clarke.

But player-manager Marcus Ebdon is unlikely to be carried away by the return to winning ways, for the Dolly Blues are anchored at the foot of the league and have yet to win at home this season.

Indeed the cash-strapped home side fielded only one player, Neil Uberschar, who had been involved in the corresponding fixture at the Impact Arena on the opening day.

Clarke struck in the 18^th and 24^th minutes to ensure the three points which in all probability ended any niggling worries of a late slide into the relegation zone, after the recent disappointing run of results had ended the play-off hopes.

Chairman Wayne Bradley admitted "Lancaster did not make it easy for us and despite their financial plight they have assembled a side that has fought with pride and their attributes are tremendous because of that.

 "We were looking for a disciplined performance today and I believe that the points gained mathematically assure us of preserving our position at this level - we have achieved stability.

 "Some will be disappointed that we are not heading for the play-offs, and while that is still not impossible we can hopefully enjoy the remainder of the season in a comfortable position following today's game and give ourselves a satisfactory run-in.

 "If we can go to Kettering on the last day and give them a run having maintained our position then I guess we can describe the season as a success."

The Reds were down to ten men temporarily in the early stages when Tristram Whitman left the field for treatment, and in that time Ebdon’s 20-yard pot shot from a David Reeves lay-off was too high.

But the beleagured home side almost took a shock lead in the ninth minute, and only a late save low to his left by Dale Roberts spared the Reds’ blushes after Jimmy Love had fed Leon Gierke through.

And four minutes later Love almost forced the ball over the line in a scramble from a City free kick.

But any jitters the Reds may have had were eased in the 18^th minute by the first goal. Ashley Burbeary’s right wing flag kick was flicked on by Barnsley loanee Ryan Laight, who was making his debut, and Clarke drilled it into the corner of the net from eight yards.

Six minutes later Robert Henry felled Steve Scoffham some 25 yards from goal, Reeves headed Burbeary’s free kick and Clarke made sure from almost on the line to double the lead.

Laight had to pop up in defence almost immediately to clear Aaron Helliwell’s angled drive off the line.

But Lancaster had a real let off when Ross Liddicott flapped at Scoffham’s header which looked a goal all the way, until the ball went off the keeper’s shoulder from a corner.

A combination of Helliwell’s clearance off the line and an offside flag denied Clarke his hat-trick from another corner, but Lancaster failed to make the most of a couple of chances just before half time, Ryan Elderton going close from the edge of the area and then setting up an opening for Helliwell whose shot on the turn went behind for a goal kick.

Lancaster started the second half the brighter, and Elderton again went close in the opening seconds, hooking Gierke’s cross just over the bar, then Love’s flicked header onto a free kick was also only just off target.

Alfreton did not really threaten again until the 57^th minute when Clarke’s strong run released Whitman down the right. His deflected cross fell to Reeves at the far post but the assistant manager could only hit the side netting.

Twice in three minutes Roberts came to the Reds’ rescue, first stretching to hold Love’s header from Gierke’s neat through ball, and then tipping over Paul Rigby’s well-struck free kick from the edge of the area..

But the keeper was caught by surprise in the 74^th minute by Lee Sparks’ snap shot, which the keeper had to juggle to hold.

City kept plugging away, and their hardy supporters were celebrating a goal 10 minutes from time – prematurely as it turned out, for Elderton was flagged offside as he lashed home a cross from Neil Marshall.

That disappointment was virtually the last time City threatened, whereas at the other end Emeka Nwadike lobbed Ebdon’s deep free kick onto the roof of the net and, two minutes from time Matt Glass was only halted by Robert Henry’s well-timed tackle back.

In stoppage time home substitute Luke Mulholland’s swerving 30-yard effort was comfortably saved, but Alfreton almost made it 3-0 when Glass’ cross rebounded back to him off the keeper, and his second centre just eluded Scoffham in front of goal.

LANCASTER: Liddicott, Rigby , Marshall, Hentry, K. Brown, Uberschar, Love, Elderton, Sparks, Gierke (Mulholland 69), Helliwell (Dohery ht). Subs not used: Barnes, Brindle, Galley.

ALFRETON: Roberts, Clarke, A. Brown, Hannigan, Laight, Nwadike, Burbeary (Tiday 71), Ebdon, Scoffham, Reeves (Glass 80), Whitman. Subs not used: Harcourt, Flanagan, Large.

REFEREE: Andrew Scregg of Merseyside.

ATTENDANCE: 216.

GOALS: Alfreton – Clarke 18, 24.

CAUTIONS: Alfreton – Laight 13 (foul on Elderton); Whitman 27 (retaliation).

MAN OF THE MATCH: Ryan Clarke.