A creditable point on the road that stretches Church’s unbeaten run to four – and with eight points from gained from that run, any threat of falling foul of the bottom four dissipates.

Realistically, Stourbridge are also probably safe, with practicably, the final two relegation spots being between Barwell, St Ives, Bromsgrove poring and Stamford. The St Ives v Bromsgrove clash next weekend will be key in determining the final outcome.

Church were more than a match for their hosts in the opening exchanges, and were handed a golden opportunity to make it count on 7 minutes when Ilesanmi was upended whilst turning with the ball in the box, and the referee pointed to the spot. Miles’ spot kick was saved by Price, but Krystian Pearce was first to respond to turn the loose ball into the empty net.

Church generally held the upper hand in the first quarter of the game, and it was not until the 24th minute that keeper Evans had a serious save to make, low to his right to gather an effort through a crowd of players from the edge of the box.

Stourbridge played their was into contention a little from the half way point of the first period, and a good opportunity on 27 minutes promised more than a deflected shot that looped tamely into Evans’ arms.
On the counter attack Church go close as Powell cuts inside and shoots on target, but the effort is blocked and cleared.

It has generally been a good half for Church, who have looked sharp and quickest to the second ball, thus preventing the home side from generating any real momentum.

Half Time: Stourbridge 0 Alvechurch 1

A good couple of chances at the beginning of the second half could have taken the game away from Stourbridge. Two minutes in Sullivan dinks a free kick into the heart of the home area, and Pearce meets it ell but the effort ultimately lacks enough power to trouble Price.

Four minutes later Ilesanmi stabs a loose ball on target from close range, but there is a body in the way and the ball is blocked away for a corner.

The outcome of the game turned on another penalty decision on 72 minutes when the ball appeared to hit the arm of Dugmore as he moved towards blocking a shot into the ground that reared up in front of him. Pavey completed the job by despatching the spot kick with some confidence.

Although Church finished the game again on the front foot, after having weathered some pressure in the final third from the home ide, there was to be no further breakthrough, and a share of the spoils was an outcome that possibly placated both sides’ aspirations in these final throes of the season.