Another Away Day Blank for Church

Alvechurch: Jezeph, Dugmore, Cassidy, Neto-Teixeira (Abbey. Jeremy), Willets, Carter, Abbey.Jed, Taylor (Hallahan 77), Waldron (Soule 65), Concannon, Hamilton subs not used: Randle, Williams

St Ives: Dadge, Casey, Herd, Richens, Williams, Toseland, Higgs (Andoh 61), Cowling, Edwards (Hottor 80), Hickinson (Shariff 58), Baker subs not used: Milne, Kaziboni

For the fifth league match in a row, Church continued in the rut of form that has frustrated so many, again conceding three goals in suffering another away day defeat. For the fourth time in that run, Church came up short on an artificial surface in the only game to survive the weather on the night.
Church took a while to find their feet on a cold a frosty evening, during which time the home side carved out an early lead. Just 10 minutes in Church were caught half asleep and a long through ball between full back and centre back caught the visitors on the back foot, and Baker capitalised, running smartly onto the loose ball and slotting confidently past Jezeph, low into the corner.

The lead lasted only seven minutes when after the referee played a good advantage following a foul on Abbey near the half way line, and Hamilton ghosted through the middle of the home defence, turned inside and steered the ball around Dadge from the edge of the box for a deserved equaliser. Church had played themselves back into the game now, and two minutes later Waldron was on the end of a Church break and was able to curl a deft effort just wide of the angle of the goal.

A potential flash point on 23 minutes after Williams lunged in on Hamilton as he threatened to turn him and run on goal from midway. Only yellow though.

Half Time : St Ives Town 1 Alvechurch 1

Church had ended the first half strongly, and started the second in the same vein. On 53 minutes Waldron beat the full back for pace on the outside and rapped the ball against the outside of the post. Concannon followed up but scuffed the ball wide of the other post.

On 63 a great move from Church with an interchange between Waldron and Cassidy making an opening for a ball to Abbey in space, and the Churchman’s effort was deflected wide of the goal following a desperate diving block by a defender.

But that was as good as it got as the home side snatched the game from any grasp that Church had on it. A long throw on 67 minutes, and a shot that came back of Jezepf, but kindly for Shariff, who turned the rebound into the roof of the net from close range.

And the points were finally settled on 84 minutes after St Ives had seemingly been struggling to clear their own lines, they did create a decisive break down the left flank, and as the ball was squared in-field to Andoh he calmly steered the ball low into the corner for a killer third goal.