Church Dig Deep For Trophy Treasure

Alvechurch: Foster, Cassidy, Dyer, Hallahan, Alabi (Ofosu 62), Patterson, Dugmore (Akinwe 78), Lamb, George, Concannon (Taylor 86), Gordon subs not used: Evans, Emery

Anstey Nomads: Logan, Bowley, Wolfe (Bayliss 65), Annable, Gibbens, Robinson, Armeni (Ballinger 74), Bestwick, Lynn, Rose, Tucker subs not used: Wilson, Harris

A rather flat encounter sprung into life four minutes before half time and from that point became a tetchy affair, from which the young Church side emerged with some credit in the character bank as they progressed in the FA Trophy.

It took Church some nine minutes before thay produced their first piece of cohesive play, with Concannon winning a free kick on the corner of the area, looking to track across the face of the box. He took the set piece himself, and whipped the ball into the heart of the six yard box, forcing a defensive header over the home goal to clear any potential danger.

Possession was changing hands regularly as both sides laboured in the early autumn sunshine to make something happen, but there was little really to trouble either keeper.

Anstey won a free kick on 37 minutes , but Armeni curled the ball just over from 25 yards.
The same player drive wide from 20 yards a couple of minutes later as the home side pressed again, but still nothing on target.

The game finally sprang into life on 41 minutes after Cassidy set off on a strong run down the right flank, with Gibbens struggling to keep up the whole way, and as the two tracked into the area the defender committed to an unsuccessful challenge that brought the Church man to the ground, and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.

The home side’s protests were vociferous.

Gordon confidently converted the spot kick, leading to more vociferous protests. The temperature of the game was now matching the weather conditions, and there was a sense that there was a change in the mood. Which proved to be right minutes later when a melee near the half way line involving a dozen or more players concluded with a red card for Gordon and yellow cards for Annable and Alabi, but it is anyone’s guess as to how the three officials in lengthy conference reached any clear conclusion. Guess is probably the operative word, as Gordon did not seen to have done much wrong as he was being manhandled by Gibbens, who himself received no punishment.

Half Time: Anstey Nomads 0 Alvechurch 1

So, not for the first time this season, Church faced playing a whole second half with ten men, but adversity they say builds character, and this proved to be the case as Church maturely negotiated the second half without any of the drama of losing leads against Barwell and Redditch in recent weeks.
Anstey inevitably created more openings in the second half as they sought to make the one man advantage count

On 54 minutes a glancing header from Gibbens was just over.
But Church were still a threat on the break, and another strong run from Cassidy down the left flank, Concannon takes over, and drives just wide of the far post.

On 69 minutes a Concannon corner finds substitute Ofosu with a clear sight of goal, but his headed effort is disappointingly well off target.

Foster pulls off a great low reflex save at the foot of the post as the game enters six minutes of stoppage time.
The scramble as the corner is half cleared sees Anstey rap the ball against the Church bar, with the ball bouncing down and away from the line as Church hold onto their slender lead.

Church are under the cosh, but holding firm. The game ends with a defensive block from Hallahan on the edge of the Church box that epitomises the second half performance from the ten men.

Despite the red card set back Church are in the bag for the next round with an overall pleasing performance.