POOR Lancaster City slumped to a dismal Nationwide Conference North defeat at home to Alfreton Town on Tuesday to leave their play-off hopes hanging by a thread.

The Dolly Blues and the visitors matched the miserable weather - both teams appearing to have a hangover from weekend FA Trophy defeats to Conference opposition.

But yet again City were the architects of their own misfortune after wasting several good chances to put themselves out of sight.

They showed an alarming profligacy in front of goal and were hit by a sucker punch on the stroke of half-time.

"It was galling," says boss Phil Wilson. "Because at that stage we were enjoying our best spell and could have been well ahead.

"But overall we were very disappointing after playing so well in the Trophy against Morecambe."

Peter Thomson saw a couple of shots fly wide when he perhaps could have scored and also thundered a right-footer against the post, while Steve Jones was an ace away from a fine goal but his wicked, dipping shot flew just over the crossbar.

Then Alfreton broke and Peter Duffield slotted home, although he appeared to be five yards offside.

That was the only goal of the game and was a killer for City.

They tried after the break and Thomson hit the side netting while Tony Sullivan crashed a 20-yarder inches over.

But at least and Alfreton attacks were quelled by Paul Sparrow the one man from either side who showed true quality on a dour night.

"We are at Moor Green on Saturday and that is a very big game now," added a disappointed Wilson.

LANCASTER CITY: Speare, Clark, McMahon, Sparrow, Scott, Hollis (Hughes 75), Uberschar, Jones, Prince, Thomson, Black (Sullivan 75)

Subs (not used): Yeomans, Dawes, Bauress.