Alfreton Town and Stratford Town met in the first round qualifying of the FA Cup on Saturday, 5 September 2026, and Stratford came away with a 2:0 win. The result ends Alfreton's run of five unbeaten matches without a victory, while extending Stratford's recent struggles on the road. To be fair, neither side produced much in the way of sustained pressure, but the visitors made their chances count.
Alfreton held 58 per cent possession and registered 78 attacks compared to Stratford's 75, yet the visitors still finished ahead on the scoreboard. The hosts earned five corners to Stratford's five, and the visitors drew 15 free kicks against nine for their opponents. By then it was clear that possession alone would not be enough.
Alfreton's recent form offers little comfort: losses to Mansfield, Rotherham, and Derby, with only a 1:2 defeat of Boston United standing out. Stratford have not fared much better, including a heavy 5:0 defeat to Kidderminster and a 4:0 loss to Anstey Nomads. The history between them adds an edge, though neither side could claim momentum coming into this fixture.
What matters now is the standing. Alfreton remain without a win in their last five competitive outings, while Stratford's narrow victory may provide a small morale boost after a difficult run. The goal difference does not change, but the points on the board do.