ALFRETON Town reserved their best performance of the season for the television cameras as they ended a four-match goalless losing streak in style against Torquay United.
Paul Clayton stole the limelight in only his fifth start of the season, helping to make the first two goals before scoring the third in style, while Karl Hawley weighed in with a brace against the club he played for last season.
Their efforts left Reds manager Nicky Law satisfied with his decision to pair them up front – although he wished Hawley had delivered sooner.
"The pair of them gave us a base," said Law.
"We got it forward early, they won the first ball and dropped on the second and we could come in behind it then.
"Paul was ready for the chance and then you are looking at Hawley and to be fair, you would be valid in asking the question 'where has that performance been before? Why has it taken against Torquay, his old team, to produce it?'
"He showed why he has been a top player.
"The difference was that the goals came with the performance.
"We have not reached the heights of that performance this season but the finishing was of the highest order."
Things might have been different if Tony Ajala and Ryan Bowman had not squandered good chances for the Gulls within the first two minutes.
The Reds settled and Hawley had two attempts saved by keeper Martin Rice by the 16th minute.
Two minutes later, he had better luck, as Clayton headed on a Cameron Dawson goal kick and Hawley scampered clear down the left before beating Rice at his near post with a powerful shot.
It ended 406 minutes without a goal for the Reds.
Torquay equalised after half an hour following their only corner of the first half when the ball reached Louis Briscoe on the edge of the area and he curled a shot beyond Dawson.
Luke Graham's precise tackle moments after the re-start prevented Briscoe from playing Bowman through, then Graham was at the centre of a contentious decision in the 32nd minute.
He headed in a Shaw corner and it looked a harsh decision when the goal was ruled out for a push, TV replays failing to pick up the infringement.
However, the Reds nipped in front just before half-time when Dan Gray's long throw from just inside his own half was headed on by both Clayton and Hawley to leave Shaw unmarked 12 yards out.
He chested the ball down neatly and picked his spot with ease.
Both Shaw and David Mellor had shots blocked by Dale Tonge as the second half began but an awful error by Dawson gifted Torquay a 54th-minute equaliser.
He failed to hold Luke Young's cross and Briscoe was left with an empty net three yards out as the Reds keeper fell back into the net.
Dawson atoned with a brilliant save 15 minutes later to thwart Duane Ofori-Acheampong at close range after Ajala crossed from the right and that seemed to act as a catalyst for Alfreton to go on and win – not least since they regained the lead a minute later.
Clayton, who had shown signs of tiring after winning virtually every aerial challenge in the first half, summoned up enough energy to run on to Hawley's header and chip the keeper exquisitely from just inside the area.
Seven minutes later it was all over for Torquay when Bradley Wood's long ball down the right was not dealt with by Courtney Richards, who virtually presented the ball to Hawley.
The striker needed no second invitation, advancing on Rice and again beating him at his near post, this time with his right foot.
"Overall, it was a good, solid performance and we have got to go and build on that," Law reflected.
