GOALS from Chris Beardsley and Liam Boyce weren’t enough as the Brewers were beaten 5-2 by Alfreton Town.
Braces from Richard Peniket and Tom Denton, as well as a goal from Dec Becon gave the home side the win at the Impact Arena.
After a good spell of pressure from the Brewers, in which Ben Hart caused the host’s defence trouble with a pair of driving runs, Alfreton took the lead. Former Gateshead striker Richard Peniket headed home from a corner after a cross had been deflected across the face of the Burton goal to win the set-piece.
Peniket could have added to his tally had he not been denied by a brilliant tackle by Jack Buxton, after the striker had been slipped in behind by Craig King.
Elliot Hodge went close for the Brewers in the 32nd minute. Matt Lund drove forward with the ball on a counter-attack and played the ball wide to the former Notts County man, who cut inside but saw his shot deflected wide.
Alfreton skipper Luke Shiels could have made it 2-0 when Callum Hawkins failed to claim a high ball into the box, but his overhead kick attempt sailed over the bar.
On 36 minutes, The Brewers equalised. Reece Hutchinson’s shot from the edge of the box was saved and Chris Beardsley pounced on the rebound to score his second goal in as many nights.
Half-time: Alfreton Town 1-1 Burton Albion
Alfreton took the lead, again from a corner, when Jack Lane powered a header home seven minutes after the restart.
It was almost 3-1 minutes later when Bobby Johnson struck the woodwork with a powerful free-kick. Tom Denton then forced a good save out of Hawkins with a powerful header.
Lucas Akins was unfortunate not to level it up for the Brewers when he was played clear by Lund, but a good challenge by Josh Wilde denied him. Denton went close again soon after, but he fired over from inside the box.
The forward put Alfreton ahead with 20 minutes to go, when he flicked a header past Hawkins after getting on the end of a long throw-in
Liam Boyce reduced the deficit for Burton when he was slipped in by Jamie Allen and drove the ball under the Alfreton goalkeeper.
Denton scored his second when the Brewers gave the ball away at the back and he tapped the ball into the empty net to restore his team’s two goal advantage.
Substitue Dec Bacon made it five with a powerful drive past Livesey after latching on to a flick-on.
Joe Sbarra went close with a late free-kick which flew just wide, but the Brewers could not reduce the three goal gap in the closing stages.
Full-time: Alfreton Town 5-2 Burton Albion