So, after two weeks out of action, Alvechurch returned to league action looking to finally kick-start their campaign and achieve lift-off. Having appointed Ian Postle in midweek as the new boss, Church' final game under Ben Davis was upon us and a chance to bow out in style if they could get over the line and record the first win of the league campaign at second-placed Coundon Court Ladies.

HOW IT UNFOLDED:
In the sunshine, it was the visitors to get us underway in Coventry. It was also the away side that had started the fastest of the two sides.

On the 5th minute mark, it should have been 1-0. Alisha Sheridan, a thorn in the Coundon defence all afternoon and fresh from her injury worry last time out, had her first chance of the contest. She swivelled past her marker before forcing former Moors goalkeeper Megan Donohoe into a smart save at her near post. From the corner kick, Sheridan ghosted in at the back post but her header came off the frame of the goal before Kiely Wilkinson saw her effort hooked off the line.

The pressure was telling and Church were getting closer to taking the lead. Millie Papper, making her full debut for Church, slid Sheridan through on goal and yet again Sheridan was thwarted by Donohoe. The ball seemed to bounce back of the goalkeeper though and was hurdling towards the goal but the Coundon defender was back in and cleared the danger.

Fourteen minutes gone and the travelling side were flabbergasted as to how they weren't at least one ahead. Charlotte Leedham with one of her trademark crosses fed Sheridan in the middle but her header trickled the wrong side of the far post.

However, Coundon landed one of the biggest punches they possibly could have. On 29 minutes, Megan Holdcraft was brought down inside the area and shouts behind the goal led to the referee pointing to the spot. It would be Jess Lundie to step up and take the resulting penalty. Her spot kick was rolled comfortably into the net to hand the hosts the lead.

The away team's spirit wasn't broken though as they continued to fight. Charlotte Taylor took aim from distance and it forced Donohoe into a very good catching save to be fair as she held on to the moving ball.

34 minutes old and Coundon had a second. Gutted. Lundie latched onto a loose ball before beating both Church defenders and tricking Dadson into thinking she was going for the far corner but she diverted the ball into the near post to double the advantage.

Shell-shocked? I think not.

Normally in this case, most teams could accept this as a road towards defeat but not with this group of players.

Three minutes after falling two behind, Sheridan did eventually end her wait for the goal that she fully deserved. Leedham found space down the right-hand side, chipping a wonderful and delicate cross onto the head of our goal-machine, who planted the home into the bottom corner leaving Donohoe with no chance. GAME ON.

WHAT WAS HAPPENING!?

Two minutes after hauling themselves back into the encounter, Alvechurch got themselves on level terms. A free-kick from Leedham was cannoned in forcing Donohoe to push it onto the crossbar. FOUR CHURCH PLAYERS followed in but it was Sheridan, who reacted quickest to get there and force it over the line to ensure that they weren't going down without a fight.

A simply pulsating game of football on show for the supporters. Some spirit from the Church to fight back and head into the break all square.

HT: COUNDON COURT 2-2 ALVECHURCH

What a breathless first 45 minutes. Would the second period repeat itself?

Six minutes after the restart, a free-kick was teased into the area. Papper managed to flick the ball onwards and arriving on the scene was Leedham but she was stretching for it. Her efforts nearly had the effect but her strike flew past the post. More pressure coming from the away team as they searched for that elusive third goal.

On 56 minutes, the admin and the staff of our Women's first-team were just starting to wonder if it was going to be one of them days where the ball just didn't want to go in. Leedham's cross to Sheridan (lost count now of how many times we've said that...) fell invitingly for our goal-scorer. Her control seemed to free her up, however she couldn't quite force it over the line as she was denied by Donohoe AGAIN!

With not taking your chances, it does leave you exposed the other way. Church fell into that trap. A loss in concentration allowed Lundie through on goal, she was tugged back and the referee pointed to the spot for a second time in the encounter.

A huge opportunity for Coundon to snatch the lead again. In these types of games, if the next goal fell to the opposition despite being on top, it has a tenancy to knock the stuffing out of a team. In this scenario, it RALLIED the troops as DADSON PULLED OFF AN INCREDIBLE SAVE FROM THE SPOT to keep us all square!!!!!

Roll of the dice from Davis as his side now feeling that they could be inspired to go on and grab all three points on the home turf of second in the league. We would welcome Jessica Wallace and Abbie Hyland back to the pitch. We also introduced Erin Jordan and Beth Cull to the pitch. Four subs for the first-time this season, too. A host of changes to change the complexion of the contest.

COMETH THE HOUR. COMETH OUR GOAL-SCORING MACHINE AND HERO!

One minute left. One goal needed. One chance to do it. A final opportunity to clinch it.

Beth Cull, introduced not long ago, delivered a wonderful cross into the penalty area right on the money for our in-form striker Alisha Sheridan, who met the ball perfectly to guide the ball home into the far corner and set off wild scenes at the home of Coundon. The goal would secure Church a precious and vital three points.

FT: COUNDON COURT 2-3 ALVECHURCH

An incredible game of football just had to have the wildest of endings. A wonderful moment for the girls in green as they finally achieve lift-off in tier five. The pressure is over, the win is in the bag and now time to kick-on from here. They just never know when they are beaten even despite staring defeat in the face on 34 minutes. A two-goal deficit turned around and a well-deserved win in the end.

Next Up? Alvechurch welcome Leek Town to The Hayes for our final battle of the season and our third game in 5 weeks against the side from Staffordshire.