Alvechurch Women turned on the style to complete a magnificent turnaround in Telford to progress to the semi-finals of the West Midlands Regional Women's League Division One Cup and set up a date with destiny.

TEAM NEWS:
Ben Davis was forced into a couple of changes to his Church side on Sunday afternoon.

Mia Dolan and Jessica Shepherdson came into the eleven to replace Nicola Pludra, who was unavailable for the trip, and Erin Jordan, who dropped to the substitutes. The other change to the squad saw captain Katherine Christopher return to the squad for the first time since our 4-0 win on the road at Bewdley Town Ladies.

THE MATCH:
On a beautiful day for it, Church were looking to start the way they finished their last league outing. However, the visitors got a bit of a shock at the start of the encounter.

Inside four minutes, the crossbar had been rattled. Church failed to clear the danger, and the ball dropped to the centre-forward, who opted to take the strike on from the edge of the box but Harley Savage got across her goal to tip the effort onto the bar to deny the hosts the lead.

A warning for the visitors.

But, the hosts' bright opening period of the game was eventually rewarded. After having that warning fired at them just two minutes prior, the away defence was breached. The striker was allowed time and room to venture forward before aiming hard and low into the bottom left-hand corner to give Telford the lead.

Shell-shocked...

Although, with the Church side, you never write them off. On 14 minutes, the away side found themselves level. Molly Hicks, fresh from her four-goal display last weekend, closed the keeper down brilliantly before winning the ball. She composed herself, picked out Leedham and Leedham punished the mistake.

The equaliser seemed to spring the visitors into life because the Church then went onto make it two and three in the space of a minute. Alisha Sheridan picked up the loose pass, went on a dazzling run before slotting home into the far corner to turn the game on its head. Telford 1, Alvechurch 2.

As previously mentioned, it had only took a minute for two to turn to three. Shepherdson, on her return, found herself on the scoresheet, too! She picked up the pieces, before whipping a cross back in. What was meant to be a cross ended up in the net as the ball just kept travelling and landed in the far corner to set off wild scenes.

14 minutes. 16 minutes. 17 minutes. Mental.

As the goals kept raining in, Telford halved the deficit. The winger latched onto a good pass before cutting in from the angle on the edge of the area and whipping a brilliant strike past Savage, who was left stranded and pulled the home side back into the cup tie.

HALF-TIME: AFC TELFORD UTD 2-3 ALVECHURCH

A crazy opening 45 minutes surely wouldn't be followed up with the same?

After getting their message(s) across at the interval, Church settled down and started to gain control of the contest. On 59 minutes, the away side slammed the outside of the post. Leedham delivered a pinpoint cross into the area that saw Sheridan peel off to the far stick before her header came back of the upright.

But, it didn't take long for Sheridan to have her brace. Six minutes after hitting the post, she grabbed the all-important fourth goal for Alvechurch. A delightful cross in from Beth Cull was equally delightful from Sheridan, who cushioned the ball down and calmly slotting home.

Church' dominance on proceedings was now coming to the surface. The visitors were left wondering how they hadn't further extended their lead. Within the space of three second-half minutes, they'd hit the woodwork a further two times. As the clock struck 73 minutes, Leedham was inches away from her brace.

Captain Christopher, on a substitute a few minutes prior, unlocked the Telford defence with a brilliant first-time around-the-corner pass for Leedham, who was forced wide, but she still had the time to unleash a stunning strike across goal and the post was in the way.

The bar then came to the home side's rescue a few moments later. The ball was set back for Shepherdson, also on the hunt for her second goal of the afternoon, saw the crossbar in her way and the ball sailed to safety.

Would Church increase the gap?

With eight minutes remaining, we got our answer and perhaps the fortune was deserved for Leedham? Imogen Butler went on one of her usual dazzling runs before striking and seeing her effort blocked. Telford, attempting to get the ball away, saw the clearance ricochet off Leedham's knee. The ball moved in slow motion, almost, as it trickled its way towards goal before hitting the inside of the post and in for number five.

There was no luck or slice of fortune about Church' sixth though.

Leedham, involved as always, dug out a delicate cross and in the centre was Hicks, who rose highest and her header was truly planted into the back of the net to cap off another memorable Church display and send the side into the semi-finals.

FULL-TIME: AFC TELFORD UTD 2-6 ALVECHURCH

Another devastating performance sees Church cruise into the last four, where they will meet Bewdley Town Ladies. The two have met twice this season, with the Church coming out on top in both - so Bewdley will be up for it and the away side will know they have to be at the top of their game to trouble them.

MATCH DETAILS FOR NEXT WEEKEND:
Bewdley Town Football Club
Ribbesford Road
Worcestershire
DY12 2TJ