Into the final game of the 2025/2026 season and a gruelling campaign on the verge of ending for the Church. We arrived into the game with the 12 players, and looking to enjoy the final 90 minutes in-front of the group. Not been the year we've expected or wanted, but huge signs of life within this team and the future looking brighter than ever despite the set-backs we have faced. Long way to go in this ever-growing story yet, and we will bounce back stronger than ever before.

MATCH REPORT:
On a beautiful and very hot day for football out there, the away side were up against it from the get-go. Within three minutes of play beginning, the hosts really should have been ahead. An in-swinging corner kick landed right into the danger area where the majority of the bodies were. It looked for all the world that Town were going to go ahead, but Robinson mis-cued her effort, completely missing the ball. Panic setting in, we couldn't quite get the ball away at the first or second attempt, but in the end, we cleared our lines to spare our blushes.

After that moment, the visitors started to settle down, started to get a foot-hold within the encounter. On 16 minutes, we were awarded a penalty. After a brilliant give-and-go, the returning full-back Eleanor Stark, who has been a big miss for Chris' side, she found herself caught in a tangle with the opposition full-back. She was brought to the ground, and the referee didn't hesitate, pointing to the spot. From the spot-kick, we had a huge chance to swing the game in our favour. The penalty was taken and well-saved by the goalkeeper. Claims from the travelling team that the ball had crossed the line. Everyone inside the arena stopped including the home side, the goalkeeper had time to get up and grasp it, play then continued.

Four minutes later, we edged closer. Zara Husssain made a late-darting run in behind the defence, well spotted by Maddie Miles. The forward took the ball into her path, went on the outside of the defender, skipped by, picked her head up, lashing an effort towards the target and wasn't far away from finding the net. The shot went just over the top of the crossbar, very unlucky not to have scored.

However, two big moments not taken by Church left the door open for Shrewsbury to try wrestle back the control. Robinson, who had a glorious chance to open the scoring in the early exchanges, made no mistake this time. As the clock hit 27 minutes, Salop hit the front and broke the deadlock. Robinson found herself in acres of space, no-one in the away ranks closing her down, backing off, inviting the shot from 25 yards. The player opted to accept that invitation and drove in a powerful effort, which flew into the top left-hand corner.

Shrewsbury were starting to up the intensity on their opponents. Raby came close ten minutes out from the half-time whistle. She should have made it two. Another dangerous corner kick delivery came into the area and the defender got up well, she couldn't guide the header into the net, seeing it whistle over the top - giving us a huge let-off.

With four minutes left of the half, Appleby was causing problems down the left. She skipped inside onto her favoured right-foot, brilliant bit of skill and improvisation to sell the movement, she whipped a curling effort towards our goal, that had Fortner worried for a second but the crossbar came to Church' rescue to deny the home team.

HALF-TIME: SHREWSBURY TOWN 1-0 ALVECHURCH

A mixed bag in the first-half. Church actually playing relatively well and withstanding the pressure that was expected to be put on them by the hosts, still looking to secure second-place in the division. After Lye Town were confirmed as champions earlier in the afternoon following Shifnal's 3-3 draw against Solihull Moors, that second-place is now still within grabs. A three-way battle between Shrewsbury, Shifnal and Redditch Borough for that position.

At the break, Chris just asked for more of the same, looking to keep working hard and limit their opposition to very little as possible, stay in the game and give themselves a chance. However, we found ourselves two and three behind within the first seven minutes of the second half and out of the contest just like that. Moments of chaos settling in for the Church, on which it isn't the first time it has happened.

Five minutes after the restart, it was 2-0. A great footballing move to be fair to the Salop. Appleby, Jennings-Davies, and Griffiths all combining and linking up in the final third. J-D threaded a wonderful pass into the feet of Griffiths, who latched onto it, and found herself one-one-one with Fortner. She had time to pick out her spot, and she was confident in-front of goal, slotting it into the bottom right-hand corner to double the advantage and give the away side a mountain to climb.

Just two minutes later, two became three. We couldn't quite stop the ball from going out for a corner, but as Church were organising themselves within the penalty area, we completely switched off to the short corner. Evans found herself in so much space and had so much time to deliver a cross to the back post. The cross though ended up flying straight into the back of the net looping up and over everyone within the box, and those that retreated to the goal-line.

Looking to ramp up the tempo, the speed of which the game was being played at. Darcy Fortner was then called into two fantastic saves, and starting to being worked a lot more than she would have hoped for. On 63 minutes, a superb effort from Jennings-Davies, provider for the second goal of the afternoon, she took the strike on from within the penalty box, and the venomous effort was heading for the top left-hand corner, which saw Fortner produce a superb stop to deny a fourth.

Coming under huge pressure, Appleby fired just over. Holly crossed the ball into the back post, and on the half volley, it was struck so sweetly. The connection was brilliant, and it flew over the crossbar.

With 20 minutes remaining, once more Fortner was forced into another excellent save. Robinson found herself on the edge of the penalty area looking to double her tally and extend the home team's lead. She managed to fire a bullet towards the target and our shot-stopper was able to climb high, tipping the thunderous strike over the top of the woodwork - keeping the score at just three. Another quality performance from our number one. Nothing she could do about the three that have nestled into her net, but producing top-class saves.

Six minutes left in Alvechurch' season, and wow. We produced the goal of the game, and the quality that Poppy Jones has within her locker. A stunning, stunning goal. She won the ball back high up the pitch, got no support with her, she lifted her head up to look where the goalkeeper was, and then executed a moment of genius. She clipped the effort over the top of the keeper, and the ball slammed off the post, landing into the net. A late entry to goal of the season, for sure.

FULL-TIME: SHREWSBURY TOWN 3-1 ALVECHURCH