Controversy Surrounds Latest Defeat

Church lost in a controversial manner at Halesowen Town – the better side throughout, the Lye Meadow side were denied a potential match winning penalty, with alleged baffling comments from the rederee, and then the home side profited from a poor decision from the officials, awarding a corner when to everyone else it appeared not. And of course the winning goal ensued to rub salt into the already open wounds.

A pretty bland opening twelve minutes before Parker drives from the edge of the box on target for Halesowen, but Hollingshead is well positioned to beat the shot away.

On the quarter hour a first real chance for Church, and Clayton-Phillips flashes a shot from 22 yards, and a deflection takes the ball just wide.

Soon after, a good break from Church, Thorndike feeds Allen-Hadley, but the latter’s indecision allows the defensive line to recover and the danger is smuggled away.

On 22 Dyer cuts inside and arrows a shot on target, but keeper Platt is well behind it, but Church are beginning to look like making a breakthough. Just before the half hour mark Gordon beats the offside trap, and tracks into the box, but his side footed effort is saved by Platt low to his left, and the danger again cleared.

At the other end, in the last significant action of the half, Okafor drives on target from the edge of the box, with Hollingshead saving well, and as the ball is re-cycled a cross is looped to the far post where Holmes heads on target from close range, and Hollingshead does superbly to deflect the ball away from point blank range.

Half Time : Halesowen Town 0 Alvechurch 0

Church grew into a dominating force as the second half progressed, playing the better football and looking the neat passing side that we know that they are.

On 58 minutes a great threaded pass from Clayton-Phillips out wide left finds Gordon centre goal, and the Church forward connects well to steer his first time shot goalwards, but the ball slams against the face of the bar, and the danger passes.

Thorndike is tripped tracking into the box, but he gets up to shoot rather than staying down, probably saving Halesowen conceding a penalty.

On 69 minutes two goal line clearances rescue Halesowen and the grittily defend a corner. Soon after, in a rare counter, Dyer and Hollingshead combine well to smuggle the ball away as Donnelly springs the offside trap and runs through on goal.

But Church are looking to be the one’s that are the more likely to snatch the win in this game, and this might have come on 77 when Allen-Hadley conjures the perfect cross for Gordon deep in the box, and the latter steers the ball into the net, but the assistant’s flag quickly snuffs out any thoughts of a celebration.

A hotly disputed corner with ten minutes remaining proves to be the pivotal point in the game. Redfern connects with the near post corner and loops it into the far corner with a deft header to put the Yeltz ahead.