Church Break Losing Run With Chance Filled Win Over The Glassboys

Alvechurch: Hollingshead, Dugmore, Cassidy. Mitchell, Ofosu, Patterson, Sturridge (Brown 65), Hallahan, Gordon (Batchelor 90+2), Allen-Hadley (Crowther 82), Dawkins subs not used: Clayton-Phillips, Reka
Halesowen : Price, Flint, Wilson, Fletcher, Kettle, Portman, Ryley (Benbow 72), Butterfield, Steward, Arthur (Daniels 78) Bood (Shambrook 53) subs not used: Walters, Bavavganga

A fully deserved win for Church based upon a significant period of domination in the second half.

Like the two previous home games, the first forty-five minutes were somewhat muted, with neither side particularly setting the pulses racing.
Best opening for Church was created for himself by Sturridge on 8 minutes, tracking across the face of the Stourbridge area, but keeper Price advanced well to close the space and block the final effort. Three minutes later a double save from Price first foiled Allen-Hadley one on one, and the follow up effort as the ball cannoned out of the box saw Dawkins’ shot beaten away by the keeper.

Just before the half hour mark Allen-Hadley bursts through again, but his final shot is from a too tight an angle, and the ball hits the side netting only.

Half Time: Alvechurch 0 Stourbridge 0

A nervier than necessary end to the game was direct courtesy of a man of the match display in the Stourbridge goal by ex-Church keeper Charlie Price, ably abetted by defensive clearances off the goal line, that kept the score at one nil from early in the half.

The one nil scoreline came from the penalty spot just four minutes into the second period. There seemed to be some confusion as to the punishment meted out by the referee after Allen-Hadley had been tripped in the process of bursting through the visitors’ defensive line by Flint, but it was immediately clear that whatever the decision, Stourbridge were reduced to ten men as the Stourbridge defender received his second yellow card. The decision, after discussion with the assistant was confirmed as a penalty.

Gordon was confident in his stuttering delivery, and beat Price easily from twelve yards.

It is no exaggeration to say that the lead should have been extended on no less than six occasions as the Church pressure on the Stourbridge goal became. At times, relentless.

On 63 Sturridge is slipped through once again by a slide rule Allen-Hadley pass, but Price manages to deflect the ball wide with an outstretched boot.

Stourbridge are on the back foot, but on 76 Fletcher drives just over from the edge of the box after a lay back from substitute Benbow

On 79 Cassidy draws another save from Price with a curling effort from eighteen yards, and minutes later Price is in action again to deny Gordon, and from the follow up he dives full stretch to his right to turn a Brown effort around the foot of the post.

Stourbridge clear the ball off their own line with five minutes remaining as the ball is threaded across the edge of the visitors’ box, Mitchell feeds Cassidy, and the defender’s goal bound shot is cleared off the line by Wilson.
From the resulting corner Crowther heads on target, and this time Shambrook scoops the ball away with a last dich clearance. Mitchell has another effort blocked away for a corner as Church look for a killer second, and to avoid any nervy finish, but it just will not come.

Nervy finish it was as in the second minute of stoppage time Hollingshead had a meaningful save to make, tipping the ball over to deny a whipped shot from the edge of the box. A ball delivered to the back post by Stourbridge brings another scare, but Kettle’s close range headed effort is smothered by the Church keeper in the last action of the game.