The game certainly had the feel of a local derby, but the only quality in front of goal came early on, with Dylan Allen-Hadley converting on 6 minutes after a Sterling-James free kick had flicked off a defensive head, leaving the Church man with time and space to curl a shot into the top corner of the net.

It stung the home side and silenced the healthy home crowd, and was just the start that Church would have dreamed of.
A midfield battle ensued, with forward forays at a premium, and as one such for Church was brought to a shuddering halt when Sterling-James was brought down 20 yards out after threatening to jinx his way through, there were high hopes of a second threat on the home goal; but the free kick was well wide of the mark.

Redditch were looking threatening on the counter, and one such attack brought all kinds of chaos in the Church box on 28 minutes when play continues after the referee’s whistle, and a tussle between Solademi and an opponent in the Church box brings a yellow for the Church man, and play is broought back for the previously awarded free kick well outside the box. It comes to nothing, but a free kick from a similar position four minutes later brings Hollingshead into serious action for the first time, with the ball whipped in under his bar, forcing the Church keeper to beat the ball away with a good reaction save,

Church are defending well as more argy bargy a minute later near the byline brings a caution for the Reds’ Johnston.

As the half draws to a conclusion there are more openings for Church, particularly down the left hand side. On 40 minutes Dyer sets off on a strong run, cuts inside and fires a shot on target, but straight at Harrison.

Church appear to have weathered what the home side had to throw at them in response to going behind, but almost shoot themselves in the foot two minutes before half time when Ceesay is pushed in the back by Sterling-James as he tracked across the face of the Church box. A free kick in a dangerous position. Fortunately Cranston’s curled effort misses the far post without troubling Hollingshead.

Another chance for Dyer in the final minute of the half sees him latch onto a flick in the wide left position, but again his on target effort is comfortable for Harrison.

The second half underlined the character in the team that had already produced two successive away clean sheets, and six points. Church are managing the game, collectively. There are odd chances, and half openings, but it is a proper attritional affair.

The home side are restricted to long ball probing, and the chances are few and far between,
On 87 minutes there is a drive from distance that forces Hollingshead to palm the ball away, and in the first minute of stoppage time Johnston lashes over from 25 yards as the frustration levels increase.

An open last few minutes present a final chance for Church when Reka springs the offside trap, but he fires over under pressure from a clutch of recovering defenders chasing him down. It does not matter, as Church emerge with another three points and another clean sheet.