Church Edge Gritty Clash With Bards

Alvechurch: Eve, Cassidy, Dyer, Hallahan (Evans 57), Ofusu, Alabi, Dugmore, Chong, Gordon (Willock 89), Concannon George (Patterson 77) subs not used: Allen-Hadley, Lamb

Stratford: O’Brien, Vaughan (Williams 78), Worley, Vann (Dowd 64), McCone, Solanke, Molyneux (Ngandu 46), Ludford-Ison, Ebanks, Lafferty, O’Sullivan subs not used: Atcha, Beresford

Church deservedly edged a gritty battle with Stratford in a game with two disallowed goals, two red cards and a penalty winner.

Despite a 27th minute red card for Callum Ebanks, the visitors hung on doggedly to midway through the second half before the hosts took the lead. Ebanks saw red after clashing with Alabi just outside the Church box, with the Stratford man collared for violent conduct.

Alabi himself was yellow carded two minutes later, and this would prove decisive for him late on in the game as he received a second such punishment for grabbing back O’Sullivan as he looked to turn him just outside the Church box.

Church thought they had taken the lead on 26 minutes when George sprang the Stratford offside trap, and advancing on goal appeared to have squared the ball for Gordon to slot into the empty net, but the assistant’s flag brought short any celebration.

Half Time: Alvechurch 0 Stratford Town 0

Church began the second period well and had a good chance just three minutes in when a good one-two between Cassidy and Concannon created an opening for the ball to be stabbed goalward from close range but deflected wide. Cassidy had another effort cannon off a defender’s arm before being deflected behind for another corner as Church turned the screw.
At the other end, the threat of a counter attack was always present, and Eve was forced to save with his feet from Lafferty.

The breakthrough finally came on 64 minutes as Church’s pressure finally told, with George again bearing down on goal, chasing down a through ball, and beating and he was clipped by keeper O’Brien as he knocked the ball through. Kobe Chong took the responsibility and delivered a sweet strike to send the ball into the top right hand corner with a confident strike.

Church enjoyed a good spell after the goal, and Evans sent a shot from 25 yards that skims just over the bar, before having the ball in the net again on 75 minutes – again ruled out. Dyer hooked the ball across from the byline and Gordon stoops to head in, but the assistant flags to determine that the ball had gone behind before Gordon’s decisive touch.

Alabi’s dismissal with 13 minutes plus stoppage time still remaining set up a nervier finish than expected, as the game became much more even for a spell. The visitors gained some ground, and threatened from set pieces, but lacked the quality in front of goal to make a breakthrough of their own, and deep into stoppage time Concannon heads off his own line to prevent any chance of a dramatic equaliser.