ALFRETON TOWN 3 GLOUCESTER CITY 1

GLOUCESTER City moved a step closer to a relegation dogfight as the Tigers were outmuscled and outplayed by an impressive Alfreton Town side, writes Jenni Silver.

The learning curve in Blue Square North has grown steeper for City, who faced another uphill battle at the sloping Impact Arena.

With Jack Harris back from injury and Gregg Lake starting on the left wing, City fielded their strongest side but soon found the going tough as Alfreton forwards Paul Clayton and Liam Hearn began tearing upfield.

City goalkeeper Mike Green saved a free-kick awarded after a foul by Matt Rose.

Alfreton's burly centre-halves had the better of Ben Hunt and Mike Symons, while Josh Law snuffed out Gloucester's attempts to play the ball upfield.

Clayton and Hearn were get the better of Lee Molyneaux, Hearn hitting the woodwork just before the half-hour mark.

Gloucester went behind on 32 minutes through Clayton after a goalmouth scramble.

Lee Smith's volley, which flew out towards the houses behind the ground, was all City could muster in reply.

In the second half assistant referee Emma Hock wrongly awarded Alfreton a throw-in.

With Gloucester players advancing in anticipation of receiving the ball from a team-mate, Christopher Hall found himself unmarked to poke the ball past Green.

A show stopper from England C team striker Liam Hearn made it 3-0.

Advancing down the middle of the pitch, he calmly stepped past Molyneaux to fire the ball into the top left corner.

Gloucester made a series of substitutions and improved.

Rose tapped in his first goal of the season on 57 minutes and for a while City dominated in midfield.

Will Morford, on for Mike Symons, and Jack Pitcher on for Ben Hunt were lively.

Pitcher met a cross from Smith and as ready to fire the ball home, but in the process he managed to collide with Paddy Gamble in the Alfreton goal.

Smith shot wide moments later as Gloucester looked for a way back.

With the Tigers set to lose three points if Farsley are expelled, they face a fight to keep their place in the league.

Alfreton Town: P Gamble, J Law, C Shaw, A Flint, K McFadzean, I Ross, J Moult, A Brown, P Clayton, L Hearn, C Hall (A Howell 66). Subs: A Todd, B Mills, D Roma, Muldoon.

Gloucester City: M Green, N Mustoe, G Lake, M Richards, L Molyneaux (T Hamblin 55) M Rose, L Smith, T Webb, B Hunt (J Pitcher 71) M Symons (W Morford 63) J Harris. Subs: J Palmer, R Aldrich

Referee: C Ward

Attendance: 410

Star man: Matt Rose