Breathless Local Derby - Shared Spoils

Alvechurch: Eve, Cassidy, Dyer, Lamb (Alabi 61), Ofusu, Patterson, Dugmore (George 83), Hallahan, Allen-Hadley, Concannon Evans (Chong 60) subs not used: none

Redditch: Harrison, Burton, Howell, Mussa (Flanagan 61), Ceesay, Wollacott, Armstrong, Rowe, Cameron (Cooper 61). King, George (Belmonte 82) subs not used: Abbey, Taylor

Who would have thought ? – Church had scored just twice in their two previous home games, and only four times in total in their five games to date – but the Lye Meadow side doubled their season’s tally in one ninety minutes in a topsy turvy game that had everyone on the edge of their seats.

Church were impressive in the first half. Going into a 2-0 lead, and then establishing a 3-1 advantage at the break, in what was probably their best forty-five minutes football to date this season. Two goals from Josh Dugmore – the first from the penalty spot and then a sublime flick up and volley after the ball had been edged on by Jack Concannon – bookended a good finish from Dylan Allen-Hadley, who had run the central defenders of Redditch ragged in the first half.

Church were two up within a quarter of an hour. Just 7 minutes in and a handball leads to a penalty that Dugmore dispatches into the newly erected goals at the car park end of the ground.

The penalty came after Church re-cycled a half clearance beck into the box, with a defender’s arm blocking the ball as it bounced about. Dugmore’s effort was strong and found the back of the net despite a good hand from Harrison.

On 14 minutes a delicious through ball from Hallahan split the Redditch defence leaving Allen-Hadley through on goal, and he made no mistake, slotting low into the corner.

Cassidy fires on target and Harrison parries, before Allen-Hadley breaks again, and as the ball is smuggled half clear a spectacular overhead effort from Evans sends the ball just wide.

Allen-Hadley is through again just before the half hour mark, and Harrison is forced to block another one on one effort. The Church front man is unplayable at the moment.

Church suffered a set back three minutes later when a break from George and a pass to Burton allows the Redditch number two time and
space to drill a cross that deflects off Cassidy into the net, with Eve possibly having it covered.
Redditch have offered little so far, but now they are well back in it, and Church need to react.

Which they do with a sublime goal on 38 minutes. Neat passing between Allen-Hadley and Concannon, and the latter flicks the ball on for Dugmore who tees up his own volley that arches into the far corner to restore Church’s two goal advantage.

Half Time : Alvechurch 3 Redditch United 1

Redditch were back in it again on 54 minutes as the second half began to take on a completely different complexion. A great run from Burton, unchallenged past three defenders, and he steers the ball into the bottom left hand corner.

A clutch of substitutions follow – two for each side – and the game is much more even now.

And the game is literally even on 79 minutes when a run around the back of the Church defence by George, and tracking into the box he is impeded sufficiently for the referee to award the visitors a penalty, which Flanagan converts to make the score 3-3.

Church still look good for a fourth goal, and Allen-Hadley goes close again after getting behind the back four, but it is the visitors who find the fourth for themselves in the last minute of normal time, courtesy of a calamity from keeper Eve. A Church corner is cleared, but the subsequent clearance from Eve from the edge of his own area is scuffed, and Armstrong launches it back from near half way into an empty net.
It’s a goal that clears the Redditch bench in riotous celebration, but Church’s response is a perfect antidote as Belmonte trips Allen-Hadley on another of his forays deep in the Redditch box, and Church get themselves a lifeline penalty decision of their own in second half stoppage time.

Chong converts his second penalty of the season to ensure that the points are rightly shared.