NORTH: Match Report - Ben's the Chap for Alfreton

Alfreton Town manager David Lloyd is a very happy man after the first few days of the new season. His side have won both their opening Nationwide North games and the Reds boss looks like he has possibly solved his problematic left-back spot with the signing of last season's Boston United captain Ben Chapman.

Chapman (25), who has joined on a one year deal, was signed just 20 minutes too late to appear in last Saturday's 2-1 victory over Bradford Park Avenue but was handed his debut in a 2-1 success at Gainsborough Trinity on Tuesday evening. Lloyd's problem was where to fit in his latest acquisition after centre-back Mark Blount put in a man of the match performance on Saturday as covering left-back.

However, as the saying goes, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'. Lloyd didn't and Chapman was given the number 11 starting shirt at Gainsborough, teaming up down the left with the ever-dependable Blount who became the 10th different player to wear the number three shirt in the past 12 months last Saturday.

In his debut, Chapman's contribution was impressive enough to earn the home club sponsor's man of the match award for a display which also saw him twice unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.

With a preceding reputation for being good in the air and a tenacious style, Chapman has good pedigree having made over 100 first team appearances in all competitions with firstly Grimsby Town and Boston United for the past two seasons, where he was captain the first half of the 2003/04 campaign in which he made 47 appearances for the Pilgrims.

Finding himself out of favour, Chapman played in some pre-season friendlies for Scarborough and also trained with Grimsby Town in the early summer months.

There are obvious desires for him to get back in the full time game and the platform the Reds are offering means the fans will see the best of him - even if it means the signing is in the short term if he realises his ultimate ambitions quickly. Chapman's signing is another major coup for Lloyd who beat off heavy interest in the player from Fooball League clubs, as he did with both his previous summer signings, Peter Duffield and Mitch Ward.

Duffield's knee injury has still not totally cleared but he was mobile enough to earn instant adulation status last Saturday when he popped in the winner against Bradford Park Avenue with barely 30 seconds left of added time after coming off the bench.

Mark Blount had headed Town's first goal of the campaign on 67 minutes to put the Reds in front, this being equalised 12 minutes later by Avenue substitute Steve Oleksewycz.

At Gainsborough, Matt Fisher steered in his first goal of the season to put the Reds in front with Ben Purkiss levelling before half-time.

Mitch Ward's first goal for the club on 64 minutes ensured the Reds ran out 2-1 winners, the second year the team has won at the Northolme and a third successive victory over former Alfreton manager Paul Mitchell.

Things can get even better for Lloyd who still has striker Mick Goddard (hamstring) and wingers Chris Dolby (calf) and Chris Bettney - one game away from completing a three-match suspension - to come back into contention and increase the manager's selection options from a squad which looks increasingly competitive throughout.

But, with Chris Dolby hopeful of returning this Saturday, it is a case of one in, one out, as Carl Bradshaw tweaked a hamstring at Gainsborough to leave manager Lloyd contemplating more positional changes for this Saturday's game.

He commented after the game: "There is no doubt we have already needed and will continue to need the squad over the next few games. This is going to be a very tough season but I think we have already shown that we have the experience to cope with it".

This Saturday the Reds go into the unknown with a trip to take on Redditch United (3pm). The Worcestershire-based side won a Nationwide North place after winning the play-offs as Doc Martens League Western Division champions.

Next Tuesday Reds fans will get the chance to see the club's brand new state of the art floodlights in action for the first time when Hinckley United visit the Impact Arena in Nationwide North action (7.45pm).