It was just not to be as Church entertained league leaders Harborough Town in the latest game at Lye Meadow.
Buoyed by the 2-0 midweek triumph over fellow strugglers Stamford, Church gave a good account of themselves, but were unable to reproduce their goalscoring feats to put their visitors under serious pressure, and the promotion chasing Town were able to steal the show in the second half with two unanswered goals.

There was some early pressure from the visitors, but Church gradually played themselves into the game, and by the 13th minute looked the more likely to score. At that point Callum Powell was presented a great chance after Bavanganga had driven the ball across the face of the goal, but having shifted the ball into position sees his shot deflected wide.

There’s not been much for either keeper to deal with as we approach the half hour mark, but then a Church goal kick is flicked on by a Harborough head, and Powell capitalises, but shoots low and just wide of the foot of the post.

There follows a brighter spell for the hosts, with great feet from Powell as he tracks in from wide resulting in a strong shot that keeper Taylor is forced to parry. Soon after a snap shot from Wakefield from the edge of the box forces Taylor into a flying save to tip the ball over the bar.

Half Time: Alvechurch 0 Harborough Town 0

The second half continues positively for Church, with a disallowed goal six minutes in buoying the home support. Powell drives the ball in from the right flank to the far post, with Abbey’s touch diverting the ball in, but seemingly from an offside position.

But within our minutes the visitors, who made changes at half time, found a way to take the lead. A long throw is flicked on and Hickey ghosts in to apply a second headed touch that floats the ball into the far corner of the net.

It becomes a bit of a struggle for Church then to create the opening that might yield a leveller, and on 84 minutes, chasing the game, they pay the price when the ball comes across the face of the Church box into space on the Harborough left, and Putman gathers possession in acres of space and arrows the ball in from