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Workington 0-1 Alfreton Town

Alfreton Town have one foot in the Blue Square North play-off final after defeating Workington 1-0 in their semi-final on Wednesday night.

Liam Hearn scored the only goal of the match to give his side the advantage and will now be quietly confident as they prepare to host the Reds in the second leg.

Both sides were in fine form in the run in with Alfreton only losing once since the turn of the year while Workington haven't tasted defeat in 11 previous outings.

Alfreton enjoyed much of the early running and will only be disappointed they didn't score more goals.

Paul Clayton could have given his side an early advantage but he was denied three times in the opening 10 minutes.

Keeper Tony Caig must be applauded for denying the striker with a ferocious volley and had David Hewson to thank for deflecting away the rebound. Clayton then only had himself to blame for not getting Jake Moult's cross on target with his head.

Caig was certainly kept busy in the first half and had to be at his best to deny Moult, first on 24 minutes, with an outstretched leg, before acrobatically tipping over a drive just minutes later.

Workington struggled to match their opponents' attacking prowess with only Jonny Wright coming close to scoring with his head, but Alfreton keeper Ross Turner did well to keep the ball out.

With five minutes of the first half remaining Workington should have found the opening goal but Turner did well to get his hands to Lee Andrews' well-hit free-kick.

Workington had the best early chance of the second half as Wright pounced on a mistake by Aden Flint but once again Turner was on top form and denied the goal.

Alfreton, though, regained their momentum shortly afterwards with Anthony Howell forcing Caig to save with his knees in the 50th minute but the keeper could do nothing to deny Hearn four minutes later when Brown played in the striker who finished well.

Caig kept the score at just 1-0 when he reacted well to a miss-hit cross from Josh Law in the 59th minute that looked to be heading into the top corner of the net.

It was all Alfreton for the rest of the game and Workington will count themselves lucky for not having conceded more goals.

Workington: Caig, Langford, Roundtree, May, Andrews, Vipond (A Wright, 79), McLuckie, Hopper, J Wright, Arnison, Hewson. Other subs: Rutledge, Hindmarch, Tinnion, Taylor.

Alfreton Town: Turner, Law, Shaw, Flint, McFadzean, Ross, Moult, Brown, Clayton (Todd, 85), Heran, Howell. Other subs: Mills, Wilson Nightingale, J Hall.

Ref: S Stockbridge

Att: 1483