Alvechurch Women secured a vital win in the race for the title as they inflicted the double over Long Itchington Ladies to sail eight points clear at the top of the tree in their pursuit of the tier six title.

TEAM NEWS:
Ben Davis made two changes to the side that dramatically sealed all three points at Worcester City, two weeks ago. The manager was able to recall Annie Clayton, who returned to the starting eleven in place of Billie Kelly. The other change saw Rhianna Medar drop to the bench and Nicola Pludra came in from the start.

Davis also had a strong bench to call on with FIVE subs named - our biggest to date so far this season.

THE MATCH:
On a very windy day, it was the visitors that got us underway for a titanic clash at the top of the table.

It was also the away side that made the strongest start to the encounter as they missed four chances in a 20-minute spell. It took just two minutes for Harley Savage to be called upon as she denied the Itchington striker from close range spreading herself to make herself big and make the save.

On 10 minutes, the striker dragged her effort wide of the mark having worked a great opening. Just 40 seconds after that strike, she was at it again but this time forcing Savage into another important save as she used her legs to push the effort wide. Five minutes later, the visitors struck the post.

Under severe pressure...

But, on 21 minutes, Church managed to squeeze up the pitch for the first time really in the game as Charlotte Leedham broke forward from an attack the other way as she carried the ball into the area but the effort sailed over the bar.

Against the run of play?

As we crossed the half-hour mark, Church broke the deadlock. Molly Hicks came into play and she chipped a ball into the path of the in-form Alisha Sheridan, who tried to round the goalkeeper. But the keeper managed to get a strong hand on it. The ball was loose though and Leedham was in the right place at the right time to tap home for 1-0.

Closing in on the half-time whistle, the home side now sprung to life and should have been two ahead. Sheridan found space inside the area and as the ball was fizzed in from out wide, she managed to direct her effort on target which forced the keeper into a great save before Sheridan had a second bite at it but the keeper refused to be beaten as she made a second save at point-blank range.

HALF-TIME: ALVECHURCH 1-0 LONG ITCHINGTON

Could Church up the tempo and race away with it in the second period?

Well, it was just the start they wanted. Four minutes into the second half, the ball was on the penalty spot. Imogen Butler, with her dancing feet, was chopped down inside the area leaving no hesitation but to point to the spot. Sheridan placed the ball on the spot and placed the ball into the back of the net!

On 57 minutes, two became three! Beth Cull curled a brilliant cross into the box from the corner kick and arriving shortly was Sheridan, who headed the ball over the line from 3 yards out to all but seal the points.

Church continued to probe and grab a fourth. Having rang the changes, there was a message of us wanting more and now truly in the mood to enhance that goal difference, which could also prove to be key in the title race.

Sheridan was now on the hunt for her hat-trick. She produced a magical touch inside her own half before skipping past two defenders and had only one thought in her mind which was to travel towards the goal and strike it. The keeper was equal to the effort.

With nine minutes left of the game, Kelly grabbed her first goal for the club. Leedham and Kelly have started to build a fine relationship on the right-hand side. The latter received the ball back in her direction before unleashing an effort from 25 yards out which squirmed through the keeper's grasp and into the net for number four.

Could there be time for more goals?

As was the case in the reverse fixture, the goals continued to flow in this one.

Two minutes later, the visitors wiped out the Church' clean sheet as they worked it well and the striker at the back post was un-marked before rifling the ball through the challenge of Kiely Wilkinson's last-ditch effort and the hands of Savage to pull one back.

There was, however, time to make it a five-star showing...

A stunning eye-of-the-needle pass from Erin Jordan split the Long Itchington defence apart allowing Leedham to latch onto and slot home comfortably to put the cap on another magical performance from the unbeaten Church side.

FULL-TIME: ALVECHURCH 5-1 LONG ITCHINGTON