First Qualifying Round Tie Successfully Negotiated

A potentially tricky away tie in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round was successfully negotiated by a revitalised Church side, unrecognisable following the sluggish league opener at Hitching at the weekend.

Shifnal were egged on by a vociferous home support and even more vociferous home bench, but it was the visitors who started more positively with dangerous pace on show up front in the form of Wakeling and Cook in evidence from the off.

Just three minutes in Cook carved out a great chance for himself with a knife through butter run from midfield, but the ball just bobbled away from him as he entered the box, and he was unable to get a shot off on goal.
Two minutes later the same player fires in a free kick from just outside the box – on target, but straight at keeper James.

Sauane was also proving to be a lively asset down Church’s left flank, and on the quarter hour a looping cross evaded everyone in the box, only needing a touch to divert it into the gaping net. Church definitely on the front foot and looking the more likely to open the scoring.

Wakeling as also proving to be a handful, and centre back Lloyd was cautioned on 19 minutes after bringing the Church frontman down. The resulting free kick as only half cleared, and Wakeling was on hand to lash the loose ball low into the corner through a ruck of players to set Church on their way with the opening goal.

Shifnal were still a threat and had a great chance on 22 minutes with a quick break that forced Brown into a smart save with his legs to deny a one-on-one chance.
Best other chance for Church came on 41 minutes when a Birch free kick from wide left was met under challenge by Willets, but his downward header was just wide of the foot of the post.

Half Time: Shifnal Town 0 Alvechurch 1

The second half began scrappily for Church, and Shifnal had a little spell, during which Willets and Cook were both cautioned. The game itself was being played at a frantic pace, and had become at the same time scrappy and a little tetchy – especially the eight people standing in the home technical area.

Shifnal squandered a couple of half chances to get an equaliser, none more so that on 63 minutes when an in-swinging corner was headed over from close range.

Shifnal have probably had the best of the chances in this second period, but not clinical enough to make any of them count. And they would pay the price with 15 minutes remaining as Wakeling carved out a second goal for himself, out-muscling the full back before steering the ball past the advancing James with the outside of his foot, and as the ball nestled in the goal just inside the far post the tie was effectively over at 2-0.

So it was Church who progress to the 2nd Qualifying Round draw at the end of the week.