Alvechurch travelled to the Arden Garages Stadium on Thursday evening as they faced off against rivals Stratford Town looking to keep pace at the top of the MFYL Southern Premier Division heading into the final game of the 2023/2024 season.

THE MATCH:
It didn't take long for the away side to almost take the lead against the bottom side as Kielan Naughton tried to pick out Mason Stevens at the far post but saw the Stratford defender in the way to clear. The clearance, though, only fell as far as Harry Bergin - who fired a superb volley back in and the ball slammed against the inside of the post before travelling to safety.

On 13 minutes, Sean Bizabani produced a fantastic outside-of-the-foot pass to Naughton, who latched onto it before trying to pick out the far corner but the goalkeeper stood his ground and matched the strike.

Church were then let off the hook as a good passage of play in the final third for the hosts saw them breach the away defence - but the striker couldn't pick out the far corner as he dragged his effort off-target.

But, only four minutes later, Church wouldn't get away with it this time.

The visitors were awaiting an offside flag that wasn't coming. The winger carried on and picked out his striker in the middle, who was all alone and he rose high to head his effort downwards and goalward which went past a helpless Matthew Horton in goal to hand Stratford the lead.

Would that be the wake-up call they needed?

Well... it didn't take long. As the clock struck 35 minutes, it was 1-1. A deep cross from Bailey Kirby found the on-rushing Stevens, who composed himself to pick out Bergin, and he had the easiest of finishes to tap home and draw the away side level.

Church weren't in the mood to slow down as we approached the break and their pressure finally began to tell. The visitors handed the home side a heavy blow just before the half-time whistle arrived. Stevens causing all sorts of problems landed on a long ball before poking it into the path of Kirby, who kept his cool and chipped it over the goalkeeper and safely into the back of the net.

HALF-TIME: STRATFORD TOWN 1-2 ALVECHURCH

In the driving seat now, and all about increasing the tempo at the interval. Whatever was said at the break clearly had the desired effect.

Four minutes into the second half, and it was three. Ricardo Jarrett was released into the right-hand channel, before picking his head up and seeing his fellow full-back partner at the back post. He whipped a sensational ball into the box and Harrison Dodd came storming in to rifle his strike in off the bar to increase the gap.

Three became four just six minutes later. Naughton channelled an inner 'Kevin De Bruyne' type of pass as he brilliantly executed an eye-of-the-needle pass into the path of Kirby. The attacking midfielder racing away, with only the keeper to beat. Kirby attempted to round the keeper before being hacked down inside the area leaving the referee with no other choice but to point to the spot.

Kirby won it. Kirby would step up to take. Having converted Church' only penalty in the semi-final shoot-out, he was full of confidence as he stepped up and slotted it home into the bottom right-hand corner to all-but seal the three points.

But, we weren't done there as another three goals were set to follow...

Two goals in the space of 1 minute and 43 seconds started to rub salt into the Stratford wounds and wrapped up Dodd's hat-trick. Dodd, the Church left-back, was having the time of his life.

He found his brace on 61 minutes. Stevens was forced a little wider than he would have hoped for, and his shot was too hot to handle leaving the rebound as a tap-in for Dodd. As previously mentioned, it only took a minute and 43 seconds for his third and Church' sixth to arrive. The young full-back was threaded through on goal before sitting the home defender down and smashing it into the back of the net!

With 20 minutes remaining on the clock, the hosts' defence was breached for the final time on the night. Kirby, also on a hat-trick, was picked out on the right-hand side. He still had a lot to do, but he continued his run into the penalty area before unleashing a venomous effort across goal, off the post and into the net for number seven to clinch a ruthless three points in their penultimate fixture of the season.

FULL-TIME: STRATFORD TOWN 1-7 ALVECHURCH U18 LR

Church' ruthlessness and professionalism in the end saw them wrap up another vital three points in their quest to keep up with the top two. However, more importantly, it meant that the away side have now made it four unbeaten in the league as they look to finish with a flourish in their final year together as a group but also their first-ever season at this level.

Next up, Church entertain Coventry Sphinx away from home and details of their final game of the season can be found below...

Thursday 25th April 2024
Coventry Sphinx U18s vs. Alvechurch U18s LR
19:45pm KO
Sphinx Industrial Supplies Arena (CV3 1WA)
MFYL Southern Premier Division