Harrogate Town went down to a disappointing 2-1 defeat to mid table Alfreton, in an entertaining clash at a rain lashed CNG Stadium.
Brendan Daniels returned from suspension,while Louis Swain dropped back into defence to replace the suspended Andy McWilliams.
Harrogate made a strong start with Lloyd Kerry providing a pass for Dominic Knowles to break through and see his shot diverted for a corner.
Town then thought they had taken a seventh minute lead when the Reds keeper, Matt Duke, could only parry a powerful drive from Daniels into the path of Jerry Yates, but his tap in was ruled out for offside.
A foul by Niall Heaton on Daniels presented Harrogate with a free kick, which Joe Colbeck rifled into the top corner to give Town an eighteeth minute lead.
Harrogate were on fire and a long ball from Colbeck found Yates,who saw his lob drift just wide.
Visiting skipper,Duke,made a string of fine saves to thwart Town, including a tremendous effort to keep out a Daniels blockbuster.
Alfreton,however, were looking dangerous on the break and on thirtysix minutes levelled the score when Andi Thanoj stuck a twenty yard free kick past Peter Crook.
The second half opened with Yates breaking through the Reds defence and skimming the crossbar with a rising drive.
Unfortunately,twelve minutes into the half Harrogate shot themselves in the foot when Crook tried to run the ball out of play,only to be dispossessed by Jordan Robertson, who curled the ball in from an acute angle.
Town pushed hard for an equaliser,but their tendency to take an extra touch in front of goal,cost them dear.
A Daniels free kick ricocheted to Knowles off Cliff Moyo,but the Reds scrambled the ball clear,while Duke made a full length save to deny Kerry, and Ryan Wilson stopped a goalbound header on the line.
Two late subs,Jordan Thewlis and Paul Clayton,both went close with late attempts,but it was Alfreton who left with all three points.
Harrogate Town
1Peter Crook, 2 Lewis Turner, 3 Louis Swain, 4 Paul Thirlwell, 5 Luke Shiels, 6 Danny Ellis (c), 7 Joe Colbeck,(Jordan Thewlis 80), 8 Lloyd Kerry, 9 Jerry Yates (Paul Clayton 62),10 Dominic Knowles, 11 Brendan Daniels (Cecil Nyoni 90).
Unused subs,16 Bloomer, 17 McGurk.
Scorer Colbeck 18, Bookings Swain ,Shiels Att 607
