Tim Flowers' men headed to Spalding United for their penultimate away game of the 2024/2025 season aiming to end their seven-game winless run in all competitions. Both teams in different situations. For the home team, a win would push them closer to the play-off picture and close the gap to a single point depending on results at the other grounds. As for Alvechurch, no win in seven has seen them dragged back into a battle to beat the drop.

Defeats for Hitchin Town and Lowestoft Town today would see relegation for both sides. If that happened, it would leave just the final space in the bottom four left. Barwell, St. Ives Town, Redditch United, Bromsgrove Sporting, AFC Sudbury, Bishop's Stortford and ourselves all split by four points in what looks set to be a seven-way battle to avoid that last spot down there. Some tough games to come for every side, so Church needed focus as they made the trip to Lincolnshire.

The first-team manager labelled the next four games in the league as "cup finals" as he looks to steer them away from it. Today, they started with Spalding United before they welcome Hitchin Town on Good Friday, who as stated would be relegated if they failed to win at home against AFC Sudbury, followed by a trip to local neighbours Stratford Town on Easter Monday. They then finish the season with a home test against what could be a relegated Lowestoft Town, who would also be officially relegated today provided they lose to the league leaders, on the final day of the campaign.

All to play for...

HOW IT UNFOLDED:
It would be the home team to get the ball rolling for what would be Church' final coach journey of the year as well.

The contest was very tense and nervy with both teams knowing what it is on the line if they could grab a win. The game was very scrappy for the opening ten minutes before the away team carved out their first chance of the game. Krystian Pearce won the dual in the air allowing Callum Sullivan to ghost into the area and pick up the loose pieces. He found a bit of room before drilling the ball into a superb area that was waiting to be attacked but the United defender somehow managed to turn the cross over the bar rather into the back of his net. A good bit of defending but superb from Sullivan.

On 19 minutes, Ammar Dyer placed the ball down on the halfway line, took his time before floating a teasing delivery towards the edge of the box. Archie Crowther climbed and towered his way over the defence. The ball dropped into a fantastic area allowing Sullivan to find a half-yard of space to drill a shot in towards goal but saw it well blocked. The rebound fell for Finn Howell, who advanced up the field, he skipped by a challenge and dug out a cross which was intercepted at the near post and hacked away to safety.

For a team that struggled to gain any real control in their cup final on Wednesday, it was a much improved performance already from the Church side, who were out to prove everyone wrong and prove that they are ready to put their foot down on the acceleration pedal to get over that line.

Spalding were under immense pressure for the opening 25 minutes. Just after the quarter of an hour mark, the play-off hopefuls carved out their first real meaningful chance of the contest. They ventured forward with their winger looking dangerous down the right-hand side. He skipped past our marker's challenges before opening his body to curl an effort towards goal. The winger forced Hollingshead to make an important save to his right. He could only palm it as far as the edge of the area but the rebound was fired wildly over the crossbar.

A game of very few chances in truth, and then came the half-time whistle to put an end to a quiet first half of football.

HT: SPALDING UNITED 0-0 ALVECHURCH

I think if you asked anyone before the game if they would take a point, they would have snapped your hand off. Church had just 45 minutes more to dig in and try to grind something out from the contest.

Three minutes into the second half and it would be the visiting side to try test the Spalding defence once again. Taking the game to them early on in both halves of the encounter. It was great to see and try to put some pressure on them. Crowther received the ball out wide following the short throwing, he delivered a beautiful cross into the area. As Sullivan closed in on the header, the Spalding defender got the faintest of touches to take it away from our midfielder.

On 63 minutes, Church continued to search for the opening goal. You felt like it would come from a set-piece, if it was going to come from anywhere. Callum Sullivan, involved in a lot of the attacking play for Alvechurch today, stepped up to take the free-kick from 25 yards out. He hit it sweetly, the ball took a wicked deflection rooting the goalkeeper, he was hoping and praying whilst watching it sail inches past the right-hand post of his goal.

Following the corner kick, Spalding broke quickly in numbers looking to take the lead. The broke stride to get down to the other end of the pitch in a flash, forcing a corner of their own. From that dead ball situation, a header at the back post was headed towards the far corner and Church recovered to the line to hook it away. Great defending and concentration in the middle to deny the home side.

For a split second, for a moment, the eyes of Kieran Wakefield lit up... our forward chased the long ball down, putting the home defender in all sorts of bother. He almost profited. The ball was bouncing around and as our striker attempted to lift it over him into the unguarded net, he somehow managed to get his arm to the effort to stop a winner!

FT: SPALDING UNITED 0-0 ALVECHURCH

With results elsewhere, Hitchin Town and Lowestoft Town were both relegated today. Both sides are set to visit Lye Meadow in the coming week or so. They follow Biggleswade Town out of the division meaning it is now just that final relegation spot, which every team in this seven-way battle will be looking to steer clear of in their final three games of the campaign.