First Team
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Thu 29 Dec 2022
Redditch United
1
1
Alvechurch F.C.
First Team
J Spiers (58')
All Change For Church Before Shoot Out Loss

All Change For Church Before Shoot Out Loss

Alan Deakin31 Dec 2022 - 12:26
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A total change in the starting eleven from three days earlier, but a battling display that ended in penalty shootout defeat after Redditch found a late equaliser.

Church made eleven changes in the starting line up compared to the Boxing Day game against the same opposition.

Alvechurch: Randle, Angelides (Patterson 35), Melbourne, Hallahan, Williams, Jones, Nbeken, Taylor, Olaluko, Spiers, Derrick (Beeson 46) subs not used: Disley-Jones, Spence, Behan

Redditch: Taylor, Flanagan.C, Wollacott, King, Gregson, Ward, Clews (Hanson 64), Sheaf, Bunn, Boothe, Smith.H (Mensah 61) subs not used: Rowbottom, Flanagan.R, Smith.C

Inevitably this led to a somewhat disjointed pattern of play in the first half, and the home side, who themselves had changed half of their starting line up, by far enjoyed the best of the possession in the opening forty five minutes. If they achieved nothing else, the Church side successfully frustrated their opponents, and managed to nullify any potential threat, limiting the Reds to a small handful of openings.

It was 21 minutes before Boothe fired on target for the Reds – the effort was blocked and the follow up effort was screwed wide. On 28 minutes, Church give the ball away on the edge of the box and Sheaf curled an effort just wide with Randle diving at full stretch.

In first half stoppage time a close range flicked header from King was pushed aside by Randle to keep the scoreline blank at the break.

Having survived the first half, Church found their feet in the second as Redditch continued to toil to make a breakthrough. And having enjoyed good possession in the opening stages of the second half, Church kept their composure to eke out an opening goal with just under an hour on the clock. Jamie Spiers’ considered finish put his side ahead as he received a threaded through ball from Hallahan before curling a shot around keeper Taylor into the far corner.

Church are the one’s creating the chances now, and Beeson is released down the right by Hallahan before firing into the side netting.

The defence work hard to keep the home side at bay as the clock winds down, and Redditch waste their openings from a spate of free kicks taken from 20 to 25 yards out.
But there was not much that could be done about the late equaliser that the home side created with just three minutes remaining. The ball is swung in from wide left, at pace, and Hanson connects from close range to steer the ball into the roof of the net with Randle helplessly exposed.

Going to a penalty shoot out was probably a fair outcome for both sides.

The first twelve spot kicks were comfortably despatched, with Hallahan, Nbeken, Jones, Spiers, Olaloko and Beeson all converting. Going first, Church then had the chance to put the Reds taker under pressure, but Williams saw his kick saved, leaving Hanson with the chance to put the game to bed. Randle saved the next spot kick, and so as you were.
Taylor is denied next, and former Church player Wollacott puts Redditch into the next round with the 16th kick of the shootout, and a 7-6 winning margin.

Match details

Match date

Thu 29 Dec 2022

Kickoff

19:45

Attendance

1,663
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