The FA Cup Run Is Off To A Winning Start

Alvechurch began their 2023/24 FA Cup Campaign in steadey fashion with a close run win over Northern Premier League side Basford United. Basford had had a sticky start to their league campaign, and were rooted to the bottom of their table after gaining only two points in their first six games.

As close as the final scoreline was, it should not have been this tight as Church dominated the first half of play, with once again forward Dylan Allen-Hadley proving a particular thorn in the Basford side.

The goal that proved to be the winning goal came early on – just seven minutes in and a long through ball from Hallahan, mis-headed by keeper Preston, and although Allen-Hadley scuffed his first attempt to take advantage, he recovered well to drill a second effort low into the net from the edge of the box.

Eve beats away an effort from Thomas on 28 minutes after the ball had bobbled around the edge of the box in a rare chance for the away side, and soon after, at the other end, a double save from Preston denies a long range effort from Concannon before a Allen-Hadley swoops to force a second block.

Basford had a stoppage time “goal” ruled out for offside – the first of three such incidents in the afternoon.

Half Time: Alvechurch 1 Basford United 0

The second half begins as brightly for Church as did the first, and on 48 minutes Allen-Hadley again beats the offside trap, holds off the defender, and fires off an angled shot that Preston saves at near point-blank range.
Four minutes later, another break from Church, and George fires on target, and as the ball comes back off Preston Allen-Hadley looks to turn the losse ball in but his effort does not quite cross the line before being cleared.

Basford’s second disallowed “goal” came on the hour mark, with the assistant’s flag again rescuing Church, and soon after Eve was at full stretch to tip the ball over the bar to deny a Basford effort from the edge of the box.

It should have been 2-0 in 66 minutes when Allen-Hadley turns the Basford defence inside-out once again, and he squares the ball across the box for George, but the Church frontman miskicks from just ten yards out with the net beckoning.

Seven minutes to go and Church’s goal remains in tact for a third time as the assistant’s flag rules out the legitimacy of a close range effort into the Church goal.

Basford are having their best spell of the game, and Eve claws away a downward header from a corner, and tips the ball onto the roof of the net, before a frantic seven minutes of stoppage time sees Basford pressing for an equaliser from a series of corner, including one that results in a back post effort that comes off the face of the post with Eve seemingly beaten.