Serious injury rocks Reds in five-goal loss

The Reds’ performance was hampered by a serious injury to key defender Terry Kennedy, who collided violently with a goalpost in the ninth minute as he cleared from Ryan Hall.

Kennedy lay motionless for almost five minutes and suffered a dislocated shoulder. The visitors’ chances were further hit just before half-time when Tom Allan was forced to limp off.

Alfreton, three points clear of the National League North relegation zone, virtually gifted former Salford City striker Matthew Warburton a hat-trick and face a tough trip to fourth-placed Chorley next weekend.

Tom Allan’s promising run was halted by a block tackle from Shaw and the clearance upfield led to the opening goal on 37 minutes when Warburton took a return pass from Hall to steer past Fabian Spiess from ten yards.

Paul Clayton did everything but level when he turned neatly on Allan’s 42nd minute lay-off to smash the ball against the upright.

Curzon doubed their advantage, though, in first-half stoppage time when Spiess lost possession to Hall when trying to clear, leaving Warburton with a simple chance to make it 2-0.

Eleven minutes after the break, following Alfreton’s most impressive spell without testing home keeper Hakan Burton, Todd Jordan’s back header fell to Hall and he squeezed home from a tight angle.

Cummins, free at the back post, headed in the fourth after 68th minutes and, with the Reds floundering, Ryan Jennings blasted against the bar.

ln the closing stages both Mark Shelton and Clayton had shots blocked as the Reds chased a consolation, but in stoppage time Warburton effortlessly claimed his treble after side-stepping Spiess.