Line Ups:
Alvechurch: Evans, Dugmore, Sephton, Merrett, Pearce, Willis, Ngandu (Schwarm 68), Sullivan, Wakefield (Clifford 89), Whyte-Hall (Dugan 79), Obadeyi (Bonnick 86) sub not used: Sang

Worcester City: Price, Stoddart (Reid 75), Bailey, Palmer. Downing, Hamilton, Guinan, Lymn, Sweeney, Burns, Lockett (Miles 75) subs not used: Belmonte, Chong

There was no apparent hangover from the events of recent days as Church took to the field for the next challenge – a league game against on form Worcester City – and another attempt to halt the losing run that had seen the Lye Meadow side slide from being minutes away from going top of the Southern League Premier Central table to the most recent position of 18th after the weekend loss against Banbury United.

The contrast in the form each side brought into the game was stark.
Whilst Church were well embedded in their winless and goalless league run, Worcester were enjoying a recent resurgence, registering six wins in the last eight, remaining unbeaten in seven games until their weekend reversal against leaders Harborough Town.

But the form book counted for nothing in a game in which Church dominated possession, created the best chances, and eventually were the only one’s to find breakthroughs to register a win that the Lye Meadow faithful will represent a tangible turning point and bring to an end a dismal period of form.

A fast start to the game saw Church dominate, and there were key positive performances all over the pitch that together contributed to the ultimate outcome.

On 9 minutes, Ngandu is on target with a free kick from the edge of the box, but it is too comfortably close to the keeper.
But as Church continue to dominate possession there is a growing feeling that there is a greakthrough on the horizon.
It finally comes on 39 minutes after Sullivan swings a free kick from wide right to the Worcester back post wher Pearce wins the header to direct the ball towards goal. It is parried back and Whyte-Hall connects to create another chance on target. That too is blocked, but his second effort is slammed in to the roof of the net from close in to register Church’s first league goal sine the third goal against Quorn on 14th October – six goalless games and defeats ago.

Half Time: Alvechurch 1 Worcester City 0

There is no drop off in dominance at the beginning of the second half, and it is duly rewarded just five minutes in with a decisive second. Sullivan is heavily involved again, and it is his low strike from just outside the box that skims past Price’s despairing dive and low into the bottom right hand corner to give the home side a fair amount of breathing space.

There is eventually an inevitable response from the visitors, especially with a flurry of corners in the last ten minutes which force Church to dig in to repel. A good chance for Sweeney on 84 minutes after he slipped in behind Merrett and approached goal from the angle, but Evans was equal to him, saving at his near post to concede another corner.

Last word might have been to Akai Bonnick, playing his last minutes for Church as his loan from Forest Green comes to an end – his drive from distance deep into stoppage time forces Price into an excellent diving save to his right to claw the ball away from the goal.

Worcester will want to point to the impact the referee potentially had on the game, but really!? The visitors deserved nothing from the game, and if they were below par, then so be it, but Church made sure that they were punished accordingly for being a touch below where they would like to be.