With no win in their last four league outings, the home side were keen to stop the rot and return to winning ways in the Friday Night Football at The Hayes.

THE TEAM
Head coach, Alan Palmer, since the exit of Luke Rowe, made a few changes to the side that salvaged a point against a-then-in-form Stourbridge side. In came Harry Bergin, Kielan Naughton and Bailey Kirby to replace injured and central defensive duo Ethan Green and Nathan Rowe. Whilst, Suleman Maqsood dropped to the bench.

THE MATCH
Perfect conditions at the Hayes on Friday evening set up a brilliant battle between the two sides.

It was the home side that burst out of the traps early on. Six minutes into the contest, and Church were kicking themselves as to how they hadn't broke the deadlock. Kirby, back in the XI and with a point to prove, managed to dig out an unbelievable cross to the far post which saw a fellow incomer, Naughton, arrive on the scene all on his own - but he could only guide his volley down the throat of the keeper.

Piling on the pressure, Mason Stevens saw two of his efforts well blocked before a third just two minutes later was gratefully clutched by the goalkeeper to deny any rebounds.

However, on 31 minutes, there was a sting to the tale as the away side, with their first real chance of the encounter managed to break away from a Church attack and the striker in the middle had acres of space to twist and turn before firing hard and low into the far right-hand corner to hand Kidderminster the lead.

As you would expect, the hosts came out to react to that set-back and were starting to enter the visitors' final third more frequently. Kirby saw two of his efforts on the edge of the area well closed down before Reka went for an acrobatic finish and nearly found it but the keeper watched it all the way as the frustration began to settle in.

HALF-TIME: ALVECHURCH 0-1 KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS

Reaction NEEDED. Reaction WANTED. Reaction WE GOT!

Just one minute into the second half, the home side found themselves level. Church won a corner after forcing the keeper into a good save before Stevens delivered a pinpoint cross into the area which saw Vano Biashivili rise the highest and his header was truly met as the ball was guided into the right-hand corner for his first goal of the season and the leveller!

GAME ON!

All of a sudden, Church were starting to smell blood. George Alison's clearance fell into the path of Naughton. The tricky winger still had plenty of work to do out wide, he chopped his way inside before curling a superb effort towards the far corner but the goalkeeper for the away side more than matched it as he got down well to save.

Could the home side's pressure start to tell?

On 56 minutes, Alvechurch were handed a fantastic opportunity to turn the game on its head. Daniele Reka managed to squeeze the centre-half into an area he couldn't get out of before nipping in to take the ball off him and weaving his way into the box. He rounded the keeper before being brought down and the referee pointed to spot.

Kirby, who had been brilliant all night, had the chance to breathe new life into Church's season with the spot kick. He stepped up, took a deep breath, and slammed it home into the left-hand corner to give the hosts a deserved lead.

The next 20-minutes of the contest became very tense and scrappy as both sides battled at the heart of it.

With eight minutes remaining of the contest, Kidderminster, who had failed to create little next to nothing all half had a dangerous free-kick from 25 yards out. The winger struck the effort forcing Horton into a good save before he jumped to his feet to make a vital block on the rebound.

The Church managed to see out the five-minutes added on and ended their long-wait for a win in the MFYL Southern Premier Division.

FULL-TIME: ALVECHURCH 2-1 KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS

So, Church end their winless run in the league to claim a vital three points and with just three games left in their first-ever season at that level, they will be looking to finish strongly and have a chance to send out a statement next week as they welcome the league leaders, Bedworth United.