So, three weeks on from their last league game, Ben Davis' side had it all to do this afternoon in the relegation battling showdown with Solihull Sporting Ladies. Following results in the last few weeks, Sporting have started to edge closer to Church closing the gap to eight points and giving themselves a fighting chance. For Church, a win would probably all but guarantee a place in tier five for next season but if it was defeat, then they would have done all they can, with no further points up for grabs and leaving their future in the hands of fate.

HOW IT UNFOLDED:
Four minutes in a crucial battle at the foot of the table and Alvechurch went close to taking an early lead. The ball is whipped in from the right boot of Alisha Sheridan, and Lara Stevens rose highest to try power home a header at the far post but the glancing touch from a Sporting defender took it away from the striker.

On 11 minutes, first blood was drawn and not what Church would have wanted. A short corner routine was worked well before the strike on the edge of the box from the angle was devastating. It travelled a long way but dipped at the right time, clipping the crossbar on its way in beating a helpless Abby Dadson, who dived for it but could do nothing about it.

Alvechurch now needed a response and they were piling on the pressure. A minute from the halfway mark in the first half, and the woodwork was in the way of denying the home team a leveller! After Stevens was fouled in a dangerous area, Charlotte Leedham took on the responsibility to take the shot on from that far out. Her effort was brilliant but it hit the upright before falling graciously into the arms of the goalkeeper to deny any follow-ups.

We were starting to get a real control of proceedings and looked as if we were to get the next goal. If we got it, it would change the whole complexion of the game. Beth Grady playing out of position in that left-back role filling in for the missing Charlotte Taylor and Beth Cull. She broke stride before taking aim from 30 yards out. Her shot had the power on it and looked as if it was hurdling towards that far corner but whiskered past the far-hand post!

Six minutes later, this time it was Libby Stokes to try her luck. Shots galore coming in now at that Sporting goal but not one wanted to nestle into the net. Stokes picked up the loose ball before cutting inside and unleashing her effort but sailed just over the top of the crossbar to continue our frustrations heading into the interval.

Davis would have been confused and left scratching his head as to how his side weren't level at least in the game on the basis of control and domination that Church just showed.

HT: ALVECHURCH 0-1 SOLIHULL SPORTING

A massive second half performance needed from Davis' side.

But, it got worse almost immediately for the Worcestershire based club as we found ourselves two goals down and a mountain to climb early on into the second period. A long ball wasn't dealt with and the striker was able to turn on it, skipping past the challenge and finding the far corner to double the lead.

We continued to pursue a way back into the contest and two chances in the space of four minutes presented themselves.

On 61 minutes, we had another free-kick chance to test the goalkeeper and force our way back into the heavyweight battle at the base of tier five. Leedham took on the responsibility again, curling an effort towards the goal but the goalkeeper was able to grab it comfortably this time around to deny us a route back into it. Supposedly, the biggest chance of the game arrived four minutes later. Leedham was taken out inside the area but the referee saw nothing wrong with it. Sheridan picked up the loose ball and her effort was tucked beyond the far corner!!

As we entered the final period of the game, it was all Alvechurch. In fact, other than the two shots that Sporting managed in the game, the game was dominated completely by Ben's young side. With eight minutes left on the clock, Church' luck just wasn't in today as we saw another effort cannon back off the woodwork. Stevens came inside to collect the ball before venturing forward and taking the shot on herself from the edge of the box, it came back off the post. Abbie Hyland raced in to try tuck home the rebound, but the ball was bouncing and she couldn't quite get her head over it to keep it down.

Frustrations continued to build and with minutes left on the clock, manager Ben Davis was sent off for unknown reasons. Something we can't quite explain, but there were some questionable decisions today from the official in the middle of the pitch for both sides.

FT: ALVECHURCH 0-2 SOLIHULL SPORTING