Single Goal Defeat to Telford Bucks Church's Winning Run

Church faced Telford with a clutch of ex players in opposition, and three players missing suspended themselves. So, given the Shropshire side’s home form, a positive outcome was always going to be an ask.

Alvechurch: Foster, Dugmore, Dyer, Eubank, Ofosu, Petterson, Cassidy, Lamb, Taylor (Rowe 66), Concannon, George unused subs: Akinwe, Emery, Manning, Kindred

Telford: Hall, Myles-Tebbutt, Fox, Piggott, Pendley, Whittall, Dinanga (Webster 90+3), Gibson, Walker (Forsyth 90+4), Moore, Styche (Mitford 90) unused subs: Hodgkiss, Jones

And so the first half panned out. Church were dogged in their defence, but Telford pressed with good possession, and gained the upper hand in the game with a goal on 18 minutes.

Church had looked comfortable, although much of the play was in the defensive half.
Foster was forced into one notable save after Church unnecessarily gave the ball away on the edge of the box with only a couple of minutes on the clock as Church made a nervous start to the game. Just after, Telford had another opening with a close range header delivered down and just wide.

The goal came on 18 minutes after a Telford through ball was cut out, but Piggott picked up the loose ball near the edge of the box, and fires in off the inside of the post.

But Church did not panic, and saw the first half out well, giving them a good platform for re-grouping and looking to get back into the game in the second. Just three minutes after the home side’s goal Church had a good chance of their own after Dugmore delivers a lovely through ball which forces keeper Hall into a mistake on the edge of his box, but the ball falls just behind Cassidy with the open goal beckoning, and the moment passes.

Half Time : AFC Telford United 1 Alvechurch 0

Church were much positive in the second half, had the better of the chances, and left those watching frustrated that the journey back down the M5 was not with at least one point in the bag.
For sure, Church had a number of moments in front of goal, that on another day may have resulted in goals being chalked up.

On another day Josh Dugmore would have steered the ball on target in the 69th minute after a Cassidy run and cross, and the ball spins loose just eight yards out. But he stabs it wide.

On another day, when Dugmore loops a free kick in from 35 yards and Ofosu connects from six yards out, the ball goes between the posts rather than over.

On another day Theo Rowe receives the ball ten yards out and finds his feet quickly to get off a shot on goal, but the ball gets away from him, and a defender recovers to manage to smuggle the ball away for a corner.

Church again had keeper Foster to thank late on as he twice saves – firstly from Styche who fired towards the top corner after picking up the ball some way out and tracking towards goal, and then from Piggott who drove on target from the edge of the box.
A much better half from Church, and a levelling up that probably warranted at least a point in the bag, but it was not to be.
Church now face two consecutive home games against Coalville Town – starting with the FA Trophy and then in the league the following weekend.