First Point On The Road For Church

Alvechurch: Jezeph, Cassidy, Sephton, Taylor (Willets 81), Williams, Carter, Abbey (Waldron 67), Edge, Brown (Asomugha 67), Concannon, Hamilton Subs not used: Phillips, Burton

Barwell: Wycherley, Warren (Pemberton 77), Bushaj, Brown-Hill, Rowley, Pepe Ngoma, Enoru, Brogan, Harding, Hickey, Master subs not used: Lee, Nassunculo, Carvell, Omatola

A strange game, where Church enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession, but failed to create a decisive opening, but the home side could have been undeservedly out of sight long before the end with theirs in this scrappy game.

Church started brightly with an early chance for Taylor to sight the goal, but his effort from deep was driven low and hard but just wide. Just after a strong run down the flank from Sephton, and a cross to the near post that Hamilton connected with but the Church front man could not quite steer his effort on target.

The home side took the lead with their first chance on 10 minutes when Church allowed Enoru to track along the goalline with the ball before slotting a pass across the face of the goal for Brogan to steer in from close range.

Clear chances were at a premium in the remainder of the half, but the pick of the small bunch for Church came on 40 minutes when Hamilton drove a shot from 25 yards that forced Wycherley into a full length save to beat the powerful shot away to safety.

A let off for Church ten minutes into the second half when the ball is drilled across the box and Brogan this time puts the ball against the frame of the goal when he should probably have scored.

It wakes Church up, and they begin to dominate the general play. Waldron and Asomugha join the fray as substitutes, and the former chases down a long through ball on 70 minutes, turns inside the defender, and curls a shot just outside the angle of the goal.

Skipper Willets then comes on the bolster the forward thrust, and he has a good effort just off target when he meets a Sephton cross before powering a header just over.

Time was ticking down and Church were camped in the Barwell half. Chipping away but unable to make a breakthrough, it took a moment of magic from Tom Edge to turn things round, when after tracking 20 yards with the ball, the Church midfielder unleashed a powerful and accurate low drive that beat keeper Wycherley’s outstretched left hand to nestle in the bottom corner for a deserved equaliser.

Whilst Barwell had obviously settled for a point, as they continued to wind the clock down, Church sensed that all three points were up for grabs, but a first point on the road in three attempts this season was the least Church deserved.