Radcliffe Borough...2, Alfreton Town...4: RADCLIFFE Boro went from champs to chumps in the space of eight disastrous minutes at Stainton Park on Tuesday night writes STEVE BOTT.

After dazzling Alfreton and the 355 spectators alike with some brilliant, incisive one-touch football in the first 45 minutes, they capitulated in dramatic fashion early in the second period, conceding three goals in just eight minutes.

It all hinged on the fact that Boro didn't have more to show for that sparkling first half display other than one solitary goal scored in the 10th minute which was credited by most to an Alfreton defender!

All very sad after new skipper Simon Carden, Barrie Keeling and Neill Hardy had led the way as Boro moved through the Alfreton ranks like a well-oiled machine.

That 10th minute strike was a tribute to the determination and skill displayed by Carden as he took the ball between Alfreton's central defensive pair and fed it to David Bean.

The dependable centre back looked to have capped a rare excursion up front in open play with a fine goal, but the effort apparently went in off a defender, so Boro couldn't even claim full credit for what was a well-constructed and crucial strike.

Nevertheless, Boro went from strength to strength as they passed their way slickly towards the Alfreton goal time and time again, with Carden and Keeling to the fore.

Unfortunately, Hardy and top scorer Jody Banim couldn't get that, what turned out to be, vital second strike before the break.

We didn't have to wait long for the goals to start flying in once the second half got under way. Unfortunately, if you were a Boro fan, they were going in at the wrong end!

Carden carried on were he had left off in the first period when he put Hardy through in the box in the 49th minute. Alfreton keeper Stuart Ford and a defender combined to block his effort.

A minute later Alfreton's leading scorer, Mick Godber, took his tally to 28 for the season when he scooped the ball in whilst sitting on the deck in front of the Boro goal.

In the 52nd minute the lively Chris Dolby got his reward for an eye-catching display on the left when he swept in Ryan France's right wing cross from a central position to give Alfreton a thoroughly undeserved and unexpected lead.

Banim interrupted the flow briefly when he had a shot turned away by Ford's foot after Carden, once again, had sent him storming into the box on the right.

All Boro's worst nightmares were happening at once and they reached Elm Street proportions in the 58th minute when Boro left back Tony Whealing headed a tame left wing cross past Hurst to put Alfreton firmly in command.

The one-time runaway UniBond Division One leaders rubbed it in and ensured they would go eight-points clear again when Steve Circuit turned the ball into the net for Alfreton's fourth goal in the 63rd minute.

At that point Boro boss Kevin Glendon sent on the first of his three substitutes when Richard Landon replaced James Price. That saw Boro switch to a formation using three strikers and four minutes later Banim claimed his 32nd goal of the season after great work by Hardy and Carden.

That gave Boro a lifeline and a comeback could definitely have been on the cards if Landon had shown a little more alertness and cool in the 72nd when the ball came off a defender to leave him clear on the right-hand side of the box.

But the former Plymouth and Macclesfield hitman drilled his low shot just past the far post, much to the consternation of co-striker Hardy.

Eamon Elliott had come on for Keeling in the 83rd minute and Gary Sampson replaced the highly industrious Carden on 87 minutes, but by then it was far too late for Boro too retrieve the situation and, in the end, Alfreton ended their recent slump by running out worthy winners.

RADCLIFFE BORO: Hurst 6, Battersby 6, Whealing 5, Kelly 6, Bean 6, Keeling 7, Carden 8, Wilson 6, Hardy 7, Banim 6, Price 6. Substitutes: Landon (for Price 63 mins) 5, Elliott (for Keeling 83 mins), Sampson (for Carden 87 mins). Referee: Mr K J Mattocks. Attendance: 355.