It was another magical afternoon at Lye Meadow as Alvechurch Women extended their perfect start to the season with a superb 3-1 victory over Halesowen Town Women in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.

The high-flying hosts arrived at the weekend looking to create even more history in the oldest and greatest cup competition in English football. Having already broken the club record for their furthest-ever run in the competition, Church were determined to go one step further and continue their remarkable start to the campaign.

Standing in their way were a Halesowen Town side who had also begun the season with a 100% record. One team’s unbeaten run was going to come to an end. Church were determined it wouldn’t be theirs.

With the Men’s first team having secured an identical 3-1 victory 24 hours earlier, Chris’ side were looking to make it a perfect weekend for the football club, and that’s exactly what they delivered.

MATCH REPORT:
On a beautiful afternoon for football, The Church were backed by their own youth teams, with three youth sides in attendance to add even more colour, noise and magic to a special FA Cup occasion at Lye Meadow.

It was Alvechurch who created the first real opportunity after just eight minutes. Lyndsey Ross, in sensational form, brilliantly worked her way past several challenges before delivering a stunning cross towards the back post. Freya Lawton rose highest to meet it, but her header drifted narrowly wide of the far post.

Despite the perfect starts enjoyed by both teams, the opening stages were understandably tentative. There was almost a chess-like feel to the contest, with both sides carefully assessing one another and waiting to see who would make the first move.

On 19 minutes, Halesowen created their first opening. Former Church player Imogen Butler ghosted in behind the Alvechurch defence before taking aim from inside the penalty area, but Billie Kelly produced an important intervention, throwing herself into the path of the effort to make a crucial block and prevent the visitors from breaking the deadlock.

Alvechurch began to turn up the pressure as the half progressed.

On 31 minutes, Simone Brown continued to demonstrate why she has become such a threat in this Church side. The forward, who had already scored five goals in her previous three appearances since joining the team three weeks earlier, brought the ball under control, drove inside and unleashed a strike towards goal. Unfortunately for Brown, the Halesowen goalkeeper was equal to it.

But Brown wasn't going to be denied for long. With just four minutes remaining until half-time, Church pressed high and won possession deep inside the Halesowen half. Lawton was first to the ball, stealing possession back and seeing her touch fall perfectly into the path of Brown. Suddenly, she was through. One-on-one.

Composure was required and just like in recent weeks, Brown showed exactly that. She calmly rolled the ball into the bottom-right corner, sending Lye Meadow into celebration and giving Alvechurch the breakthrough they had been searching for. A perfect time to strike.

HALF-TIME: ALVECHURCH 1-0 HALESOWEN TOWN

If the opening 45 minutes had been a tactical battle, the second half was something completely different.

Church exploded out of the blocks. Just five minutes after the restart, the advantage was doubled and what a goal it was. Poppy Jones showed superb strength and composure in the heart of midfield, protecting possession before spreading the ball out to Ross just inside the Alvechurch half.

From there, the winger took over. Ross drove forward, skipping past challenge after challenge; one, two, three, four, five, six, gliding towards the Halesowen penalty area with seemingly nobody able to stop her. She entered the box and, rather than going for goal herself, showed brilliant awareness and composure to slide the ball right across the face of goal.

It was begging to be finished and Freya Lawton had arrived. The forward smashed the ball home to make it 2-0 and continue her remarkable run of form, finding the net for the third consecutive appearance.

Church were in control. Halesowen were struggling to live with the intensity of the hosts.

On 71 minutes, Alvechurch came agonisingly close to finding a third. A brilliant clipped pass from Lawton sent Brown racing in behind once again. The in-form striker reached the ball and looked ready to add another goal to her tally, but the Halesowen goalkeeper produced an excellent low diving save to deny her. It was brave goalkeeping and it kept the visitors in the contest.

But with 10 minutes remaining, the icing was finally placed on the cake. Having announced the return of talented midfielder Katie Jamieson, affectionately known as KJ, on Thursday evening, the midfielder was making her second debut for the Worcestershire side. And what better way to mark her return than with a goal?

Grace Ford delivered a brilliant corner into the danger area, with the ball dropping into the mixer. KJ won the second contact and guided her header towards the far corner. It nestled perfectly into the bottom-left corner. A returning hero had marked her second debut with a goal, and Church were heading into the next round of the FA Cup.

Halesowen did manage to pull one back with six minutes remaining to set up a nervy finale. The visitors' striker raced in behind the Alvechurch defence and kept her composure to slide the ball past EJ Leigh, giving Halesowen a consolation goal in their final FA Cup outing of the season.

There was, however, to be no dramatic comeback. Church held firm. The final whistle was greeted by another huge celebration at Lye Meadow.

FULL-TIME: ALVECHURCH WOMEN 3-1 HALESOWEN TOWN WOMEN

Five games. Five wins. A 100% record.

And, most importantly, another historic step forward in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup. From the opening tentative exchanges to the explosive second-half performance, this was another genuinely superb display from the side in Amber and Black.

Brown continued her phenomenal run of form, Lawton found the net for the third consecutive game, Ross produced a moment of individual brilliance, and KJ marked her return with a goal. The magical season continues to reach new heights.

And Church will now go into Monday’s FA Cup draw knowing that their remarkable journey will continue for at least one more round.

Even better, the Women’s team have now replicated the exact same scoreline as the Men’s first team. Another 3-1 victory to make it a perfect weekend for Alvechurch Football Club. Five wins from five. Another cup victory. Another chapter of history written and there is still plenty more to come from this incredible group.