A superb volley from Matthew Burke early in the second half was enough to give Alfreton all three points and condemn the Steelmen to a second successive defeat.

However in the build-up to the goal, Steelmen defender Chris Hope was elbowed in the head but play was allowed to continue with the Corby man lying in the penalty area.

That was the second major call to go against the visitors after striker Leon Mettam's shirt was clearly pulled in the area by Reds defender Richard Pell, only for referee Dudley to wave away the penalty claims.

"The referee actually came and apologised to me after the game over the penalty incident," said Drury.

"It was a blatant penalty, the lad clearly pulled Metts' shirt in the area but the referee said he didn't see it.

"Then for their goal, one of their lads smashed Chris Hope in the face and that perhaps stopped our chances of getting the block in.

"There were two big decisions in the game and I feel the referee got them wrong. It's frustrating because had the penalty been given, it would have put us one-up and then things might have been different.

"But while that was disappointing, you can't just blame the referee for the defeat because we also didn't create enough in the final third.

"We didn't really give enough support to the attack. Big Jason Lee battled well up there but we didn't get high enough up the field to support him and squeeze them and I felt things didn't really run for us.

"That said, I wanted a response after the defeat by Gloucester City and I think I got the heart, battle and desire I wanted.

"I don't think we're playing as well as we can right now but at the end of the day, it's taken a wonder strike to beat us and there's nothing we can do about goals like that."