James Fry' men come from behind to snatch all three points against a stubborn but well organised recently promoted Biggleswade Town side to give their season lift-off. Having come from behind in mid-week to claim a point against fellow promoted side Harborough Town, Church were looking to make it four points from a possible nine to open the campaign.

HOW IT UNFOLDED:
Church flew out of the blocks early on in the contest and went close on a couple of occasions through the dangerous Omari Sterling-James, who was causing mayhem amongst the Biggleswade midfield. In the 7th minute of the encounter, Sterling-James found time and space inside the area but his tame header would fall into the hands of the visiting goalkeeper.

Sterling-James, having a field time of it, received the ball inside the pitch from Dan Sweeney. The former saw the keeper off the line and opted to take the strike on from 30 yards out but his effort didn't have the purchase on it to take it beyond the man between the Biggleswade sticks as Church' early frustration grew with every passing minute.

The hosts continued to dominate the early proceedings and were nearly in-front on 14 minutes. Sweeney's first-time cross from the wide area almost found Kieran Wakefield but the Biggleswade defender made a superb last-ditch interception to take the opportunity away from the former Birmingham City man.

However, despite the early domination, Church were undone. Babable-Gumbs weaved beyond two challenges before his cross somehow evaded the sliding challenge of Solademi. The ball ended up at the feet of Edward Panter, who was ready and waiting to sweep the ball home to hand the visitors an unlikely lead at Lye Meadow.

As the half drew to a climax, there was time for Sweeney to force the away goalkeeper into a decent save. Joe Willis with a beautifully weighted ball into the feet of our forward, he shifted it out of his feet before striking from a tight angle but the keeper was down smartly to parry it away from danger and ensure the Waders headed into the interval with the lead against the run of play.

HALF-TIME: ALVECHURCH 0-1 BIGGLESWADE TOWN

Could Church turn the tide and the atmosphere inside the ground?

Three minutes into the second half and Church responded with the perfect answer. Wakefield drove at the heart of the Wade defence before brilliantly executing a delicious pass, which released Sweeney. A stroke of luck as the goalkeeper came out to claim but lost control of the situation allowing Sweeney to pick up the pieces. The forward kept his composure under pressure before smashing hard and low under the keeper and beyond the two defenders on the line. Alvechurch 1, Biggleswade 1.

GAME ON!

Church now pressing home and eyeing up the all-important second goal. Half-chances for Sephton and Wakefield, who both saw their efforts over the bar from distance as the groans inside the ground became ever-present to hear.

The away side gave the hosts a fright with 17 minutes left of the encounter. Having been fouled on the edge of the area, the Waders opted to play a short free-kick to the man who gave them the lead. Panter with an effort that curled inches past Charlie Woods' left-hand post. An escape for the home side.

Who would be the hero as we enter the final ten minutes?

There was only one man for the job. With two minutes of the contest, we had our very own hero. Willis with a threaded ball through to Sweeney. The latter had plenty of work to do. 30 yards out from goal, he managed to dance his way through the challenges in-front of him before rifling his effort off the near-hand post and into the back of the net to clinch the points for #TheChurch.

FULL-TIME: ALVECHURCH 2-1 BIGGLESWADE TOWN

As mentioned above, a much-needed victory for James Fry's men, who achieve lift-off with their season. Hopefully, now to kick on. We head to Hertfordshire next weekend as we entertain Royston Town away from home looking for our first away win of the 2024/2025 season and back-to-back wins. See you in Royston!