Sleaford Town narrowly missed out on picking up points on the road for the second successive game, losing 2-1 to Clifton All Whites thanks to a free kick late in the second half. Taylor Gray brought things level for Town following an opener for the All Whites within the opening 10 minutes.

Coming into the match manager Matt Evans made three changes from the side that drew 1-1 to Swallownest last time out, with the injured Josh Wilson being replaced by debutant Teddy Jefcoate, as well as the unavailable Lewis Greenfield and Lewis Rowland making way for Riley Wilkinson, and last week's goalscorer Andy Whalen.

Sleaford created the first half-chance of the match, when midfielder Joe Wilkinson drove forward before unleashing a strike which travelled narrowly wide of Louis Harris' post.

Whilst the early pressure came the way of the visitors, the hosts responded with pressure of their own, leading to the first goal. Attacking midfielder Nathan Kelly picked the ball up from 25 yards out and beat his man before striking a beautiful shot into the top right corner, with Jefcoate stranded as he watched the ball sail in.

The Greens didn't let this knock them, however, fighting back and creating some serious attacking threat to get back into the game.

This pressure lead to an equaliser five minutes before half time. A cross in from Wilkinson was knocked down at the back post by Lewis Smith. The header eventually landed in the feet of Gray, whose turn and finish was superb, beating Harris who made himself big to try and stop the effort.

Sleaford started the second half on top, too. A corner was put onto the head of Gray, who couldn't quite direct his effort on target, but highlighted the intent of the Greens as they pushed on to try to get a potential winner.

This intent and pressure counted for nought, however, with the All Whites finding a goal to give them the advantage again. A free kick was won on the edge of the box, and put in by Harry Daykin. His delivery deflected off Michael Lindsey, before hitting captain Jonathan Timmins last and hitting the back of the net, leaving Jefcoate wrong-footed at close range.

Pressure piled on the Clifton defence in the dying embers as Sleaford again pushed on, but they couldn't do enough to get the ball in the net. Wilkinson put another cross into the box, which was flicked on by his namesake to Archie Olivier-Townrow at the back post. The original shot was blocked, before Smith and Benji Zalewski had shots of their own, with the ball eventually deflected wide, and the Greens shocked that they hadn't equalised again.

In the end it wasn't meant to be for Sleaford, as they travelled back from Nottinghamshire with no points.

The Greens now turn their attention to next Saturday, where they face Pinxton in more UCL Division One action.