YORK paid the price for two early concessions as they crashed to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Alfreton.

Martin Gray’s side fell behind in the 13th minute as Tom Denton rose highest to power home a header from James Clifton’s free-kick.

Things quickly got worse for York with Curtis Bateson brushing aside Kallum Griffiths to launch a one-on-one attack from the halfway line.

The Alfreton winger advanced on Adam Bartlett, and calmly rounded the York goalkeeper before rolling the ball into the net.

Alfreton should have claimed a third goal at the start of the second half, with Sean Newton fouling Bateson in the area. Richard Peniket aimed his spot-kick down the middle, but Bartlett kept out the striker’s poorly-struck effort.

York halved their deficit in the 68th minute, with Jon Parkin knocking the ball down Macaulay Langstaff, who drove home from close to the edge of the area.

Parkin failed to find the target with a late header, with the defeat leaving York in 17th position in the National League North table.

York: Bartlett, Griffiths, Bencherif, Tait, Newton, York, Penn, Moke, Kempster (Ferguson 5), Burrow (Parkin 58), Wright (Langstaff 58).