Mad Five Minutes Cost Church Dear

Church were stung by a devastating five or six minute spell of play from the visitors, conceding two goals in the process, and giving themselves a mountain to climb against play-off chasing AFC Telford United.

A good opening spell for Church saw them probing well the Telford defence on a tricky surface – deploying nice passing football in two thirds of the pitch, but just unable to create that crucial opening in the final third.

It all fell apart though on 19 minutes when Church only half cleared a corner, and the ball fell to Moore 22 yards out, and the Telford man delivered a half volley that fair flew through the crowded box and into the left hand corner of the goal.

A minute later, another passing move across the box found Moore again, and this time he despatched a shot that rattled the Church bar. Walker then curled in another effort on target, forcing Hollingshead to push the ball aside for a corner, at full stretch.
Church are struggling to clear their lines, and another shot goes flashing across the face of the goal, needing another save from Hollingshead as he tips the ball aside of the post.

It’s a dodgy spell for Church, and they just need to get through it.

But it is not to be, as on 24 minutes a free kick from wide left is only half cleared, and the loose ball is rifled in at the far post by Piggott, and the ball hits the roof of the net courtesy of a couple of defensive deflections.

Half Time: Alvechurch 0 AFC Telford United 2

The next goal is going to be critical to the outcome of this game.
And it nearly falls to Church just five minutes into the second half. Brown sends the ball across the face of the goal, and a snap shot from Allen-Hadley is well saved at point blank range by keeper Hall.
It’s a good, and probably best chance so far for Church.

Soon after Telford could have sealed the game with a third goal after Moore breaks and feeds Dinanga, but the latter should have done better than blazing over under no real pressure.

Church’s hopes finally dimmed on 79 minutes when Allen-Hadley shrugged off his marker near the touchline, tracked into the box, and delivered a low shot that arrowed straight at Hall, who kept the ball safe at the near post.

Telford’s aspirations remain a play off spot. The Bucks currently sit third in the league, seven points clear of Stratford in sixth with seven games remaining.
However, when asked whether arriving in a play-off campaign with momentum is a necessity, the Shropshire side’s manager Kevin Wilkin explained it is not the be all and end all.
“I’ve been on both sides of the coin,”
“I’ve gone into some play-off campaigns in terrific form, and equally I’ve been in the fortunate enough position where I could rest players so there hasn’t been that momentum.”
The Bucks boss then asserted: “Our first thought is trying to consolidate and finish as high up the table as we can.
“As I’ve said before I think Needham Market will be really hard to catch now, so we just want to try and gain as much momentum as we can.”
“We want to try and play at home if at all possible and finishing in second or third allows you that. Equally if you finish second and get through the semi-final leg, being at home again is obviously a major plus.
“We’re taking stock of it throughout the season, which players are fit, and which may need a rest, but first and foremost we want to know we’ve secured a position in there.
“If we can get there the sooner the better and have a spot secured we can look towards managing the fitness of the players.”