Upon the final weekend of 2024, Ben Davis' ladies side took to the field for the final time this calendar year as they welcomed an SL Elite Women side hoping to gain some vital minutes ahead of their crunch showdown with Knowle FC Ladies next weekend. Adding key minutes to some of the ones that are returning from injuries or back from their university programmes. A useful day all around to close the year.

We'd like to take a moment to thank SL Elite for agreeing the friendly and what unfolded was an entertaining six-goal thriller at The Hayes in-front of a decent crowd.

HOW IT UNFOLDED:
Ben Davis was able to ring the changes to the starting eleven today. There was a start for Abbie Hyland, who has had to be patient since returning from injury for her opportunity. She got to make her return from the start today as she looked to make her mark. Nicola Pludra, now started back-to-back games, a welcoming sign for the full-back since her comeback from injury. There was a start for Molly Hicks too, who hasn't featured since pre-season.

Also welcoming Mia Dolan and Giselle Kutia-Calame back to the matchday squad, but both had to settle for a place on the bench. Another huge positive for The Church was seeing Billie Kelly return to the substitutes bench. Our full-back sustained a worrying injury at Leek Town Ladies on October 6th, 2024. So to see her return after two months out was another shining moment. Everyone would like to welcome her back and now as she looks to build up ahead of steam, we can't wait to see her return to the pitch.

In bitter cold conditions, it was the hosts to get this friendly underway as the final first-half of the calendar year was ready to draw to a close. It was the start that Alvechurch would have wanted too. On 8 minutes, the home team broke the stalemate. Hyland threaded a wonderful ball through to the goal-machine Alisha Sheridan, who weaved her way through the defence before curling home beyond the despaired dive of the goalkeeper to unlock the door and give us the lead.

A fast start to kick-start the Church side, who went close on multiple occasions but saw efforts either flash wide of the target or the goalkeeper stood strong to make some important saves and keep the visiting side in the encounter.

As the half flew by, the visitors did get themselves on the scoresheet as they levelled things up. A long, hopeful ball wasn't dealt with cleanly by the Church defence and the striker ran through before smashing it into the back of the net from close range. Nothing we could do to stop the strike from nestling into the net.

On 26 minutes, the away team had completely turned the game on its head as they cashed in for the lead. Another mistake allowed the striker to roam in behind. With the whole half to make up, she kept her composure whilst running at speed. As she approached the key stage of the finish, she opened up her body and slotted the ball into the far corner to flip the score-line around in their favour.

Not much in the way of clear-cut chances for the remainder of the half as SL Elite went into the interval with the advantage.

HT: ALVECHURCH 1-2 SL ELITE

At the break, the team was given a mix-up, aiming to get a reaction. Kutia-Calame, Dolan, Stevens, Butler and Kelly all came in to the side as they looked to make the impact required to turn the situation around. Looking to continue our fine upturn in form which has seen just one defeat in our last four in all competitions.

Could we turn the score-line back in our favour and end 2024 with a flourish?

It took a while to get going in the second half but 21 minutes into the second period, we had our well-deserved equaliser. A brilliant move allowed a substitute link-up. Dolan with an exquisite ball into Kutia-Calame's path. Our forward had all the time in the world to pick her spot and she fired across goal into the far corner to draw us level in the contest. A goal on her return, some things never change!

Just three minutes later and Church were ahead for the second time of the afternoon. This one... WOW! A corner kick was teased in by Butler, with no home player able to get on the end of it. That allowed a clearance from the away side but it landed as far as 25 yards out from goal. Molly Hicks took one touch before unleashing an absolute thunderbolt from her right-foot into the top left-hand corner to mark her return from time away with a bang. Quite literally...

The remainder of the half was well dictated by the home side, who now went in search of the goal that would kill of any hopes of another comeback. On 74 minutes, Butler was a hand away from making it four. She found some space inside the area after Kutia-Calame's cross to the far post. Our tricky winger cut inside, attempting to bend her effort into the far corner, but the goalkeeper sprung across her goal to make an outstanding save as she pushed it around the post.

The fourth goal for Church and sixth goal of the afternoon came shortly afterwards though as we broke the SL resistance. Anna Bebb stepped into midfield to take command of the situation developing. She then audaciously backheeled her pass into the gap between the SL Elite defenders freeing Lara Stevens. Our forward still had a lot to do but she did it well as the ball was tucked into the bottom right-hand corner to settle proceedings and set us up finely for next weekend's first fixture of 2025.

FT: ALVECHURCH 4-2 SL ELITE

A wonderful performance overall from The Church side, who have started to grow rapidly in their own confidence and belief in the last few weeks. Just what the doctor ordered, and in-time for the first league fixture of the new year next weekend as we make the trip to Knowle for an important fixture towards the bottom of the tier five table.

Have a happy new year ladies, and see you next Sunday!