Alvechurch travelled rural Leicestershire on Saturday afternoon looking for a turn in their fortunes having fallen well below the standards that they have set themselves this season. Usual tight and cagey affairs have led to a single goal reflecting the score-line in their previous nine league outings. We thought we were all-set for another one of those afternoons.

Barwell came into the game on the back in fine form themselves with just the one defeat in their previous five league encounters. Their last home game came in a defeat to a last-minute winner from Johnny Johnston in a 1-0 defeat against Redditch United on October 14th. So all in all, they were keen to bounce back on home territory.

HOW IT UNFOLDED...
It was a blistering start to the contest from Church. Inside four minutes, Charlie Wragg - on loan from Sky Bet League Two outfit Walsall, came closest to breaking the deadlock. Tyrone Barnett's flick-on landed kindly into the path of Wragg, whose snap-shot was well denied by the goalkeeper from point-blank range to keep it level.

But just four minutes later, and Wragg made no mistake this time around. The ball managed to wriggle its ways into the path of the lightning-quick forward, who was composed and slotted under the goalkeeper's legs to give Alvechurch a deserved lead on the balance of play in the opening ten minutes.

However, then came a huge turning point. Having been ever-so comfortable for 25 minutes. Barwell were rewarded a penalty kick for something I believe we see in every game we play. Both sets of players were grappling onto each other's shirts as they competed for the tussle of the ball. But the referee penalised Pearce for an apparent tug of the shirt despite both players being at it. Honestly...

In the midst of all of it, Pearce was then booked for an apparent 'delaying the restart' when leaning forward on the edge of the box, bracing himself for anything that came back out from the spot-kick. Frustrations boiling over. After a delay to the penalty, Leroy Lita stepped up and converted from the spot to draw the game level.

Church now needing to go again. The away team lost control for a period of time within that first-half but managed to overcome the intense pressure that was coming their way. Barwell growing in confidence having seen the tide turn on the travelling side. But, James Fry's men managed to pull themselves together and find the spirit to conjure up a brilliant passage of play.

Joe Willis interchanged with Sam Perry, who then threaded a wonderful ball into the path of Ammar Dyer. The left-back's cross was inch-perfect for Tyrone Barnett to ghost in behind his marker and tap home from close range to regain the lead on the half-time whistle.

HT: BARWELL 1-2 ALVECHURCH

In a commanding position now and looking to build on the first-half performance which was so far, so good for the side from Worcestershire.

But, then came the huge lapse in focus and concentration. Four goals in a nine-minute spell saw off the challenge and killed any hopes of an Alvechurch victory on the road.

Ten minutes after the restart, the hosts drew level. Having given the ball away in a dangerous area, Ethan Hill managed to slide former Church man Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton in down the left. His shot somehow managed to hurdle itself into the far corner. Really not sure how he managed to find the far corner as the shot had no real power or pace on it. Whether it took a bobble on the surface and looped up over Hollingshead's hand, we'll have to wait and see but Barwell didn't care as they were level.

When momentum is with you, it really is with you.

The third goal was a really poor piece of defending for Alvechurch, who were now caving in. Substitute Olly Brownhill managed to drive forward into the room that was opening up in-front of him. No Church man closing him down. He was allowed a shot from 25 yards out which sailed into the bottom right-hand corner to completely turn the game on its head.

Four minutes later, things went from bad to worse. Extreme even. Riley Moloney managed to evade three Church challenges before poking it towards goal past the smothering Hollingshead, but there was nothing he could do and covering on the line was Callum Sulliva, who did his upmost best to clear the ball but it cannoned into the side-netting and it was four for Barwell.

These types of games between Barwell and Church always seem to be comebacks.

The game was well and truly over on 67 minutes as the visiting team's misery was compounded. Deen Master was in acres of room on the left-hand side of the area. He wasn't closed down quick enough and despite the attempts to block the ball, the ball was curled and arched into the far corner to settle proceedings. Lost for words... having only conceded 11 goals in 13 games before today, this was humiliating.

There was time for one bright spark and positive for the away side. Daniele Reka came off the bench to net his first goal for Alvechurch Football Club. A truly proud moment for him and the club. Having been a huge part of our success at Alvechurch Under 18's, one of our own found the net on Saturday ending his wait for a goal in our first-team - the last kick of the game virtually.

FT: BARWELL 5-3 ALVECHURCH

One of them days. Game of two halves. First-half was the perfect typical away day performance before a total capitulation in the second meant Church slip to 17th in the Southern League table. Having been top of the pile only two months ago, their steady decline means they are now only two points off the bottom four. We will now look to pull ourselves back together and go again against Leiston.