Church brushed aside Racing Club Warwick with an accomplished perfoemance that for all too long just lacked the end product. Until, that is, the arrival of substitute Kieran Wakefield as a second half substitute turned that scoreline in the home side’s favour.

Indeed, it was not so much Church’s profligacy, but in equal measure it was an outstanding performance in the Warwick goal from Allsopp that kept the scoreline blank for so long.

Tricky conditions after rain deluges in the days leading up to the game, but the pitch was looking lush green, and the surface was slick but eminently playable, even though it takes time for the game to settle.

Church were the first to show, on 11 minutes, when Osborne passes through the defensive lines to find Okafor one on one with Allsopp, but the keeper does well to produce a strong one-handed save whilst seemingly going the wrong way.
Church are on top, and minutes later are peppering the Warwick box, with three shots blocked by full-bodied, committed challenges.

On 21 minutes the ball is drilled across the face of the Church goal and Collins drives smartly on target but hits Reilly positioned on the goal line to prevent an opener for the visitors in their first real threatening move.

Church are moving the ball away with crisp passes and movement, and next, Crowther has an angled effort beaten away Allsopp.

On 27 minutes, Okafor out-muscles his marker (not for the first time) before angling a powerful drive just wide of the angle of the goal. Next up, Ilesanmi drives on target from the edge of the area, and Allsopp again produces a good save.

There have been some good openings for Church, but no end product as yet, and not even when Okafor is though on goal again after Crowther loops the ball over the back line, but Allsopp stands up strongly to block the Church man at his near post with a brave save.

Just before the break another chance goes begging as Ngandu sweeps the ball into the heart of the box and another good connection from Okafor but his stabbed effort is off target this time.

Half Time: Alvechurch 0 Racing Club Warwick 0

Allsopp is in action again as the second half gets into its stride. Four minutes in and Clayton-Phillips has a driven effort beaten away by the visiting keeper after a precision threaded pass from Okafor.

It’s a bit quieter in terms of goal threatening action however as the game gets more bogged down in midfield, but the breakthrough finally comes on 69 minutes when Stephens feeds Clayton-Phillips down the left, and the ball is squared for Wakefield to sweep the ball in with a composed finish from the edge of the box for one-nil.

It’s no more than Church deserve, and there is relief that they have finally found a way.

Evans is largely untroubled throughout the second period, but he does produce a superb flying one-handed save on 87 minutes to tip away a hot from just outside the box that is most certainly heading for the top right hand corner.

Warwick have no doubt stepped it up now, in search of an equaliser but Church wrap up the points on the break with just a minute of normal time left on the clock. Evans punts the ball upfield, and as it bounces in the box Wakefield is impeded in the box, and a penalty is awarded. Okafor makes no mistake from the spot with a cool and comfortable finish

The win and clean sheet keep Church in third place, and the winning run stretches to four, with ten goals scored and only one conceded in that run, and sets up the Bank Holiday clash with fellow top six side Rushall Olympic in two days time.