THE Skrill Conference play-offs are beginning to look a tall order for Alfreton Town after their second damaging defeat inside a week.
The Reds led until 10 minutes from time at Woking but defensive frailties again undid them as the Surrey side turned the game around.
Alfreton are now seventh in the table and have played a game more than everyone who matters above them.
Five games without a win is hardly the form they needed at the business end of what, nonetheless, has been a campaign to exceed expectations, whatever happens from here.
Everything went to plan at first for the Reds.
Manager Nicky Law recalled Tom Shaw in place of Dan Bradley, while Elliott Whitehouse replaced Godfrey Poku and Connor Franklin came in for Daniel Meadows.
And Alfreton impressed in the first half.
There was an early chance, with Whitehouse firing over from a second-minute free-kick.
Three minutes later, a tremendous central run by the same player ended with Shaun Harrad firing wide.
Much-travelled striker Scott Rendell tested Jon Worsnop with a ninth-minute header for Woking but, moments later, Jon Akinde headed the ball into the net over advancing keeper Sam Beasant, from Whitehouse's pass, only to be denied the opener by an offside flag.
Bradley Wood's 13th- minute shot was held by Beasant but Akinde was not to be denied.
In the 20th minute, Harrad squared the ball for the big striker to tap in from five yards.
At that stage, without a doubt, Alfreton were full value for their lead.
A stooping header by Brett Johnson prevented Akinde from picking out Harrad, then Beasant saved well from Shaw from 16 yards following Harrad's nod down as the Reds threatened to make it two.
Jack Marriott, twice, and Josh Payne missed reasonable chances as Woking finally showed something going forward.
Then, the second half was a different story, as the home side pushed forward incessantly.
Worsnop denied Joey Jones with another good save three minutes after the break.
Ten minutes later, Nick Fenton, otherwise faultless at the back, almost scored an own goal when his defensive header from a John Nutter free kick came back off the post.
In the 72nd minute, Marriott smashed the ball against the crossbar with Alfreton under the cosh.
And their cause was not helped when Fenton succumbed to injury a minute later and had to go off.
Woking substitute Giuseppe Soul was next to be thwarted by the bar in the 79th minute.
But Woking's threatened equaliser arrived only moments later.
Josh Law conceded a free kick close to the bye-line when he impeded John Goddard and Goddard's excellent delivery was headed past Worsnop by Jones.
Law almost made amends when he unleashed a thunderous drive from 25 yards that clattered the bar.
But the action was soon back at the wrong end from the Reds' point of view.
Worsnop saved from Rendell following Goddard's defence-splitting pass.
But there was nothing he could do when the home side sealed the points five minutes from time.
Marriott swept the ball home after being put through by Payne, the swift break stemming from what appeared to be a push on Akinde.
