Bishop’s Stortford relegated from National League North after 3-0 defeat at Alfreton Town

Bishop’s Stortford’s relegation from Vanarama National League North was confirmed as they lost 3-0 at Alfreton Town on Saturday (March 16).

The Blues suffered a 14th consecutive league defeat at the fifth-placed side and face an immediate return to step three of the non-league pyramid.

Victories for King’s Lynn Town - who they host in a rearranged match tomorrow (Tuesday March 19) - and Darlington mean Steve Smith’s men are 29 points from safety with nine games remaining.

Aaron Greene went close for the visitors when he fired a low shot wide of the post after a twisting run through the middle.

Stortford goalkeeper and captain Jack Giddens kept out a headed effort from Jordan Thewlis before, at the other end, Ryan Charles missed the target with a long-range shot and Greene fired wide after being set up by Jack Thomas at the end of a counter-attack.

The hosts took the lead eight minutes before the break when Thewlis collected the ball from Harry Beadle’s downward header and lofted it over Giddens and into the net.

The visitors had chances to equalise before half time, but Charles’ low cross went begging with no team-mate on hand to finish and Greene had an effort saved by George Willis.

Alfreton doubled their lead seven minutes after the restart when the Blues failed to deal with Kennedy Digie’s low cross and Thewlis netted from close range at the far post.

The Derbyshire side should have added to their tally through Jake Day, but he fluffed his lines from William Fewster’s cross.

Stortford’s best chance of the second period fell to substitute Gio McGregor whose powerful long-range strike went straight at Willis.

And the home team wrapped up the points with five minutes remaining when Fewster curled in their third goal with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box.

Alfreton Town: Willis, Clackstone (Ram 87), Lund, Digie, Wiley, Thewlis (Salmon 81), Cantrill, Day (Taylor 79), Waldock, Fewster, Newall. Not used: Askew, Brisley.

Blues: Giddens, Haines, Akolbire (Alexander 61), Kassarate (Lusardi 83), Robbins, Beadle, Foxley, Oke (McGregor 63), Thomas, Charles, Greene. Not used: Messaoudin, Harvey.

Attendance: 494.