On a day of excitement, Alvechurch welcomed second-placed Stamford AFC to Lye Meadow as the top two collided. The home side had the bragging rights against the Dannies last year, winning 4-3 at home in a crazy game of football, which saw five goals in 25 second-half minutes and 1-0 away from home on a day that saw two Church players sent off before Kai-Adan George managed to snatch the winner in the 88th minute.

Recent joys, could Church follow up the wins from last year and go three points clear at the top of the tree, even this early in the season?

HOW IT UNFOLDED...
On just a normal English day that saw the good side and bad side of the weather, it was the away side that got us underway for this blockbuster encounter at Lye Meadow.

It would be the visitors to create the first opening of the game inside four minutes. A shot from distance was always rising and over the top of the crossbar.

The contest early on was almost riminess of the game last year, with an end-to-end feel about it. On 9 minutes, Alvechurch had their first opportunity. Sterling-James beat his marker on the outside before delivering a teasing ball into the area, but his cross was dipping awkwardly in the air for the opposition goalkeeper slamming the far left-hand post.

Having bounced off the post, Hadley retrieved the ball. He had time to rifle a dangerous low ball across the area. No-one in yellow following up until it came back to Sterling-James. The shot was there to be taken first-time, which the winger didn't turn down as his strike was arrowing towards the far corner. A Stamford body was in the way to deny us an opener.

Just six minutes later, and calls for a Church penalty were waved away as Hadley raced in-behind, the goalkeeper in no mans land before getting a touch on the ball to divert it to safety and keep the score-line at bay.

As the half continued to pass by like a flash, the home team had a huge chance to make the breakthrough. Hadley, getting himself involved in most Alvechurch attacks, brilliantly nut-megged his marker allowing him space to venture forward. He kept his composure, teeing up Wakefield coming in from the left to take the shot on. However, the latter's tame effort was grasped by Jackson.

Frustration amongst the hosts was continuing to grow.

Two minutes before the break, Hadley again found a pocket of space. He drove forward before hitting a bullet from his right-foot causing the goalkeeper to push it wider than he would have hoped for. But that was that for the first-half action.

HALF-TIME: ALVECHURCH 0-0 STAMFORD

Heading into the interval all square for the second game in a row, we've been here before. Would the Church script come to life again and find that moment to take them three points clear?

The encounter took a rather big swing in the second-half. Having been an enthralling first-half display with chances at either end, there was nothing as such in the second period as both sides tried to claim control of the game. A very tight and cagey affair.

With both sides cancelling each other, chances became very limited. However, Church continued to probe, hoping to smash the door down and get the all-important goal they were craving. They had a half-chance on 68 minutes as a corner was swung in causing panic amongst the Stamford back-line but Jackson was back to his feet and came out to grab the ball not allowing a Church forward to get a shot in.

A twist to the chapter came on 74 minutes though. The home team were caught napping on the ball and giving away a very soft free-kick away in a fantastic position for Stamford. A chance to load the penalty area for the visitors. Bartle delivered a teasing cross into the Church danger area and a touch off the boot of Glennon managed to take it into the far bottom left-hand corner leaving Hollingshead with no chance.

Church' long resistance of not conceding a goal was finally broken and now with work to do to try to rescue a point on home turf.

Approaching the finish line, Church had two massive opportunities to rescue that point. Sterling-James to Barnett, twice! The first one saw Omari deliver a stunning ball into the box and Tyrone opted to go with his head rather than his foot. A chance he wish he could have all over again as his diving header went past the post.

The second of the two chances saw Dyer go on a mazy run before being chopped down in one of the wide areas. Sterling-James took charge. He whipped in another incredible ball which landed on the head of Barnett once again. This time, he directed his header on target but his effort was caught on the line with some help from the right-hand post allowing Jackson to keep his balance.

But, the away side held on for the win and condemn Alvechurch to a second home defeat of the season in just five games. The other three have seen one draw and two victories. Still lots of work to do if they are to rectify their home form.

FULL-TIME: ALVECHURCH 0-1 STAMFORD

A chance to go three points clear was snuffed out by the resilient travelling team. Instead for the home side, the result sees them drop to 3rd place. Stamford's victory allows them to leapfrog Church into top spot. As AFC Telford United snatched a point on the road at AFC Sudbury, it means they go into second-place with Alvechurch dropping a place below them.

Next up for The Church sees us welcome Liam McDonald's Glassboys to Lye Meadow on the Head of Social Media's birthday. Saturday 28th September with KO coming at 3pm.