No Extended Trophy Run For Church This Time

Church were unchanged from the midweek defeat at Telford, and given the suspension and injury list, perhaps not surprising.

Alvechurch: Foster, Dugmore, Dyer, Eubank, Ofosu, Patterson, Cassidy, Lamb, Taylor, Concannon, George unused subs: Dias, Cooper, Emery, Manning, Kindred

Coalville: White, Dean, Putman, Hutchings, Doyle-Charles, Berridge (Chambers 63), McGlinchey (Cook 71), Pennant, Towers, Shaw (York 71), Pepe-Ngoma subs not used: Carter, Laban

Loud shouts in the first seconds of the game when Church felt they should have had a penalty when Michael Taylor was “tripped” running into the Coalville box. Trip or dive, the referee took no further action perhaps suggesting that he was unsure as to what had actually happened?

Pennant drove on target from a tight angle on 9 minutes forcing Foster to turn the ball around the foot of the post with a smart reflex save.

Taylor was proving to be a real handful for the Coalville back line, shielding the ball well in attempting to bring teammates into play, but Church not quite getting the rub of the green with a couple of harsh offside decisions in particular when openings were created.

On 23 minutes Coalville work a short corner and Pennant tracks along the byline and crosses low across the face of the box, forcing a defensive clearance over Church’s own bar.

As half time approached Church switched off for a moment and were punished. Putman loops a ball into the box to the far post, and Doyle-Charles stoops to head in from close range to give the visitors a slender lead just a minute before the break.

Still time for Church to strike back in the remaining time, and a free kick is won on the corner of the Coalville box, and Concannon’s kick is glanced behind, flying just wide of the far post.

Half Time: Alvechurch 0 Coalville Town 1

One moment of lack of concentration shifted the momentum in favour of the visitors, but Church went toe to toe in the second half.

One minute into the second period, the ball is slipped through for Taylor who is clear to fire well on target, forcing a good save from keeper White.
Just after, a flowing counter attack from Coalville brings Foster into action with a good point blank save.
The game is opening up, and on 59 minutes a good run from Dyer from wide left, a cut inside, and a shot from 25 yards that is rising, and is ultimately well over, but a bright spell from the home side.

On 67 Eubank takes the ball forward confidently, feeds Cassidy, and the in form Churchman curls a shot from over 20 yards out against the face of the right hand post, with White beaten.

Church are pressing for an equaliser, and are looking the most likely to get the next goal. Ofosu heads off target when he meets a Concannon free kick.

A half chance for Coalville on 85 minutes when a backwards header from Ofosu to his keeper from close range squirms loose, and Cook looks to capitalise, but cannot get control of the ball before it runs out of play for a goal kick.

Time is up, and Concannon bursts through but again fires off target, which sums up Church’s second half response – good control of the game, but just lacking in quality in the final third to really make a difference.

Church get another pop at the same opponents in seven days time when three league points will be up for grabs.