Four wins from six away games. Church into the first-round proper. The story of the afternoon for the visiting side.

HOW IT UNFOLDED...
It would be the home side to get the first chance of the contest early on. The game just three minutes old, and a header from Tominson flashed past the near post as an early warning was handed out.

The chances continued to flow for the hosts as they stamped their authority on the travelling side. Shots from Clifton and Hilliard were just over the top of the crossbar as the home team threatened to take the lead. However, as chances came and went for the hosts, it leaves you exposed the other way.

As the game went on, Church started to settle into their stride. The return to Spalding United for Dan Sweeney was having an impact as he looked in the mood. He thought he had beat the offside trap on 14 minutes but the offside flag was up on the far side of the pitch to deny us an opener.

In their all white strip, the visitors were hunting an opening goal before the break arrived. Sweeney from the left-hand side found space to drive in to before skipping inside and unleashing an effort that was gobbled up by the goalkeeper. Just moments later, it would be Sam Perry to try his luck but his 25-yard effort was also very comfortable for the goalkeeper in a stalemate first-half.

HT: SPALDING UNITED 0-0 ALVECHURCH FC

Like most weeks, the Church would head into the interval deadlocked, needing to show their grit and determination to come out fighting again hoping to find the elusive goal that you feel would be a winning one.

Little did we realise how soon that goal would come though. A huge reaction from the away team just six minutes into the second period. Perry cleared his lines, which fell kindly to Sweeney. Our front-man brought the ball under his control before delicately swivelling past his marker and driving towards the by-line. He picked his head up, driving a low cross into the mixer. Spalding swiped at the clearance, which fell beautifully for Sullivan. Our midfielder kept his composure despite falling over to lift it over Breeden in the Tullips goal.

A twist to the tale though in the space of 1 minute and 20 seconds. Sweeney was given his marching orders after the fastest yellow cards we believe we have ever seen.

The visitors have been in this scenario a couple of times under James Fry. So the panic button was not being hit.

However, the resistance would only last so long as Spalding found a way back into the contest with 14 minutes remaining. A corner was swung in, but a poor ball allowed Church to clear. The only trouble was the ball landed back at the feet of the corner kick taker. Nyahwema picked up the loose ball before curling a ball back in which was too hot to handle for Hollingshead and it slipped through his grasp to level the score-line.

Heading to penalties or would either team find the winner?

We got that answer but not without the drama that followed in a breathless final few minutes.

On 88 minutes, Church reclaimed their advantage. A beautiful in-swinging corner caused huge chaos at the far post allowing David Solademi to rifle the effort back towards goal, which had a slice of good fortune on the way through but it ended up in the net to set off wild scenes on the Church bench!

Five minutes added on. Time to see the tie through.

Spalding now throwing the kitchen sink at it to take the tie into a shoot-out. They had a golden chance to do just that.

Following a scrappy spell inside the box, Church failed to clear their lines properly. As we went to make the tackle, we were a little late to the challenge and Tomlinson went down under pressure, resulting in a penalty kick with virtually the last kick of the cup tie. Having made it a habit of saving penalties for Church last season, Hollingshead was in the zone to try and be a hero again.

PENALTY SAVED!!!! RONNIE HOLLINGSHEAD WITH A MASSIVE SAVE FROM THE SPOT TO SEND CHURCH THROUGH!

FT: SPALDING UNITED 1-2 ALVECHURCH FC

Things can't be done the easy way in football, can they? A tremendous fighting performance from the away side sees them into the hat for the first round draw on Monday afternoon. Caught your breath yet?! Incredible drama at the end sees us through and now look towards Tuesday night's Worcestershire Senior Cup match against last year's finalists Evesham United.

It's the Champions v the Runners-Up on Tuesday. One not to be missed.