Church came out second best in a see-saw encounter with promotion chasing Real Bedford after having given a real good account of themselves in this late season fixture.

The home side set their stall out from the off, and were popping the ball around with aplomb, finding players in space with their fluid movement.

As early as the 2nd minute Stevens curled the ball off the far of the Church far post from the edge of the box as Church took a little time to steady themselves, and start to match their hosts in many areas. On 14 minutes Ngandu plays Wakefield in wide on the right, and the ball gets flashed across the face of the goal begging a decisive touch, but Ilesanmi is inches from making a connection.

But danger lurks around every corner, as on 24 minutes Church make a mess of a throw in in the defensive third as Pearce sends a bobbling pass back to Evans, whose clearance is blocked, but Jones cannot get the ball on target from the angle and strikes the outside of the post of the yawning net.

On 31 minutes Tee shoots on target from the edge of the box after cutting in, but Evans is well positioned to gather.
Bedford’s excellent movement all over the pitch is problematic for Church, especially on the break as the ball is move swiftly forward into the space behind the Church back four.

And it finally pays off on 36 minutes following a quickly taken short corner. Tee helps the ball goalward as it is pinged in, and Allen applies the final touch from very close in to steer the ball into the roof of the net.

The home side have been quicker all over the pitch, and it has finally paid off.
But Church are not out of this, and are still well in the game, especially as stoppage time arrives. Two minutes in Sullivan puts in a good cross, and there is a good connection from Bavanganga from inside the box, but he cannot keep the ball on target. It is a warning for the home side that the visitors are still a threat, and two minutes later the pressure finally pays off. Carnage in the Bedford box, and the home side look a little complacent in getting the ball away, with a couple of efforts being blocked with desperate challenges, including more than a hint of handball, but Dugmore is alert and picks up possession near the byline and feeds the ball in for Ilesanmi, centre goal, and the Church front man smartly turns the ball in from a few yards.

Half Time: Real Bedford 1 Alvechurch 1

The second half begins brightly for Church. Four minutes in, Wakefield ghosts past three challenges before opening his body up for a shot but he steers it off target from the edge of the box.

Church have moved higher up the pitch, squeezing the space in midfield, and this is paying off as it seems to be stifling the movement of the home side.

However, there are still chances for Bedford, and on 53 minutes Jones takes a first time shot from a tight angle, but Evans is well positioned to block the effort with an outstretched boot.
Two minutes later a great blocking save from Evans denies Setchell after a smart one-two with Stevens, but in an identical move a minute after Stevens ghosts in at Evans’ near post and this time nicks it past the Church keeper to put Bedford back in the lead.

On 66 minutes Evans saves again, at full stretch, to deny a Bedford free kick from 22 yards out, and then straight back up the other end Powell and Abbey combine well to block a Bedford clearance, but Abbey’s attempt to lift the ball over the stranded keeper into an empty net is foiled as the ball lacks momentum to beat a recovering defender.

Church are enjoying good spalls of pressure in the Bedford defensive third, and this all pays off on 81 minutes when Obadeyi receives the ball from a short corner, and the Church forward drives the ball towards goal, to find Abbey with a decisive touch to divert the shot low into the far corner to give Church a deserved equaliser.

There is some nice football being played by the visitors, and the game looks to be anyone’s for the taking as we move into four minutes of stoppage time.

But Bedford find a way as the ball is worked down the right flank, and then moved quickly into the box to find Allen with his back to goal, but a smart turn and shot sees him deliver the winning goal as the ball flies past Evans from 15 yards.

It’s the last kick of the game, and an underserved outcome based on the second half action.