Our Under 18's welcomed Allscott Heath to the home of Alvechurch Football Club first-team (Lye Meadow) for the very first time in their histroy as we sought out history in the FA Youth Cup. After three defeats in a row in the previous three years, Church were out to try and make history themselves. It was also the first time in three years that the side from the village were handed a home tie. So all eyes were firmly fixed on the action at Lye Meadow. Could Church achieve the impossible or would Allscott hand Church more heart-ache?

THE MATCH:
Under the lights at Lye Meadow, it was the away side that got us underway for the encounter...

It was the home side that burst out of the traps looking to set their stall out early on in the contest. Two chances inside the opening ten minutes meant for an open-feel cup tie. Francis saw his effort flash wide of the mark before Oppong had an effort well saved.

35 minutes into the game, and Church were dominating proceedings. Creswick carried the ball a very long distance taking on four players before his hitting a venomous curling effort just beyond the far left-hand post as the hosts' frustrations continued.

However, two minutes later, the door was eventually smashed down. Francis with the quick-dancing feet went on a mazy run before being brought down under pressure inside the box. Fresh from winning the spot-kick, Francis stepped up and smashed it into the top right-hand corner to give Alvechurch their deserved lead.

HALF-TIME: ALVECHURCH 1-0 ALLSCOTT HEATH

After the interval, Church got the game back underway...

Allscott, with a point to prove in the second period, came flying out of the blocks looking for a way back into the encounter. Nine minutes into the second half, and the visitors had their equaliser. A cross-field pass was delivered by the right-back and from distance saw an beauty of an effort go beyond the helpless Howe in the Church goal and send the away side into raptures.

Church now sucker-punched. Could they wrestle back control of the tie?

As the clock ticked along, the home side grew in confidence once again as they tried to retake the lead. With 16 minutes remaining of the encounter, the hosts got their rewards from a dominant spell. A cross was fired beyond the defenders, falling to the back post for Francis. His initial shot was brilliantly kept out by the opposition goalkeeper from close range before Francis followed up to nod home the header into an empty net.

Then came the chance to settle the tie... settle the nerves...

On a hat-trick, Francis wanted the penalty and so did the staff... but the players on the pitch took control and handed the chance to substitute striker Ngomsi. A chance to send Church through to the first-round qualifying for the very first time in their history but the opposition goalkeeper had other ideas as he pulled off a big save to keep Allscott in the tie.

Goal for Allscott... Heart-ache. Heart-break.

The young Heath side battled to find an equaliser. A free-kick was floated into the area and the header was planted back across goal and into the net to level the game. Penalties await...

FULL-TIME: ALVECHURCH 2-2 ALLSCOTT HEATH

On penalties, Allscott Heath ran out 4-2 winners.

FULL-TIME: ALVECHURCH 2-2* ALLSCOTT HEATH

Disappointment on the night for the young Church side, who fall at the first hurdle for a fourth year in a row and a second straight season via a penalty shoot-out. It's time for the Church squad to bounce back starting next week on Monday.