Alfreton successfully managed to beat the drop at the end of a traumatic and challenging first ever campaign in the top-flight of non-league football. The Reds were definitely through thick and thin in the first half of the season and for a while looked like they will be cut adrift at the bottom before the remarkable rise from the ashes in the last couple of months. Nicky Law knew that it will be a tough season from the off but even he must have been horrified to see his team lost 6:1 at home to Forest Green in only their second home game of the season. Dreadful defensive displays became a recurring team in these early weeks and Alfreton had actually shipped 47 goals by early November, conceding four or more goals on five occasions. They must have felt that everything was against them as some decent displays went unrewarded with a gut-wrenching 3:2 loss away at local rivals Mansfield, having been two goals up with 15 minutes left, standing out. Law was experimenting with a three-man defence and three-man attack but nothing seemed to work and at times his men looked desperately out of their depth. They had won just two of their first 20 games in the league but a dramatic 3:2 win over direct rivals Hayes & Yeading in November, that saw two Alfreton goals come in added time, seemed to have given the players the vital belief and confidence in their ability to get results. The team ended the year on a good run and were unbeaten in four games before suffering another poor run of four defeats in six games in January. However, Law was by then confident that his side could beat the drop as they were facing good teams and outplaying them at times while showing real work ethic and dedication. However, the real turnaround happened in March which began with the team still in the drop zone. They started the month with a draw at home but after that won seven of their next eight games, starting with a 6:1 demolition of direct rivals Stockport. Suddenly it was all working out with the defence standing firm and Anthony Wilson and Nathan Jarman coming up with some terrific goals. The last of these wins, away at promotion contenders Wrexham, have all but ensured safety and Alfreton were able to relax for the remainder of the campaign after a job well done. Law deserves the biggest credit as he stuck to his principles and will be delighted that his methods paid off at the end of a gruelling season.
