A Final Is A Final - Whatever the Competition

Let’s make no mistake – County Cups really are historically prestigious competitions.

They largely date back to the 19th Century, and were the early fore runners of the prestige competitions we see today.
So, a final appearance should be celebrated – it’s not a pointless exercise, and one that should not be devalued, as some are inclined to do.

Silverware is silverware, and your name id in the record books for perpetuity.

The Worcestershire Senior Cup began in 1893, with Redditch Town the first winners. The Birmingham Senior Cup, recognised as the oldest regional cup competition in the world, had itself began in 1876.

Alvechurch are four times winners – the last in 2019, with a 3-1 win over Redditch, when the competition was held as a “pre-season” tournament, and the previous three in that halcyon period of West Midland League dominance in the early and mid 1970’s.

This semi final win was hard fought, with Redditch top of the Southern League Premier Central, and Church just finding their form feet again after a dodgy spell.

Redditch would have been favourites, and probably enjoyed the more positive spells of attacking play in the first half, but Church were dogged in defence, and themselves created the odd foray of their own to keep the Reds on their toes.

As the game wore on, it seemed increasingly likely that one goal might just do it, but the killer blow never came. In the first half there were few clear cut chances. A 24th minute melee in the Church box following a Redditch corner, but Church smuggled the ball away eventually. Church had had an earlier effort from Cassidy cleared off the line in a half chance.

On 53, Hollingshead pulls off the most significant save of the game when he denies Cameron one on one after the Redditch man had squirmed through the Church defence.

The best chances for either side probably came in the final quarter of the game.

A good period of pressure from Church with twenty minutes remaining bided well, but the killer final pass is just missing.
On 78 Clayton-Phillips loops the ball forward form Sturridge, who gets to the ball first, lifts the ball over keeper Harrison, but also just wide of the goal.

At the other end a corner for Redditch and Hollingshead drops the ball under pressure, but gathers at the second attempt in a mad scramble near the goal line.

Four minutes of stoppage time also fail to provide a breakthrough, and so penalties beckon.

Penalty Shootout:
Church score all four of their penalties (Gordon, Hallahan, Dugmore and Brown), with Redditch having their first two (from Cranston and George) saved by Ronnie Hollingshead. Soleman put away Redditch’s third, but Brown scored Church’s fourth to put the score out of Redditch’s reach at 4-1.
Evesham await in the final on 10th April.
They last won the cup in 2018, and in 2007 and 2009 before that.