Another outstanding team performance from Alvechurch against probably their toughest opponents so far, that stretches the unbeaten run to five and the clean sheet run to four matches.

That it was decided by Jessy Bavanganga’s close range finish after just 11 minutes was perhaps most surprising, as both sides went at the other’s goal full pelt throughout but failed to penetrate.
Church were quick out of the traps and owned the early minutes of the game. After just three minutes Stephens is set free down the left, and he touches the ball inside for Clayton-Phillips whose angled drive is touched onto the foot of the far post by keeper Taylor.

Two minutes later a lofted ball falls behind the Rushall defence, finding Okafor, and a deft touch and smart shot is blocked by Taylor at his near post.

The early pressure told on 11 minutes when an Osborne free kick from a central position 23 yards out was only half cleared, and in the ensuing confusion, Bavanganga was alert to stab the ball in from a few yards to give Church a deserved lead.
Six minutes later a Clayton-Phillips cross to the back post is met well by Crowther but his header is deflected over by a defensive head.
A short corner follows and Kelly whips the ball in and Okafor connects well but the effort is well saved by Taylor.

It has been a tough start for the home side but they gradually get a better foothold in the game as the first half reaches its half way point.
On 21 minutes Craig shoots from the edge of the box forcing Evans into a low save to his left, and the loose vball was smuggled away.

Pressure from Church again and a run of four corners in quick succession put the Rushall goal under significant pressure, requiring resolute defending.

Five minutes from half time, another quality save from Evans claws away a dinked shot that was heading for the top corner. More pressure from Rushall on 43 minutes as a corner is drilled to the back post and the subsequent shot at goal is well blocked by a cluster of Church bodies. A similar move quickly follows, with this time the ball being headed off the Church line at the back post.

Half Time: Rushall Olympic 0 Alvechurch 1

It’s a better half for Rushall after the break.

On 51 minutes a dangerous cross from Lycett and a flicked header inside the box that forces Evans to turn the ball around the post.

At he other end Osborne tries, not for the first time this season, to beat a keeper off his line from the centre circle, but after receiving the ball from a weak clearance his effort from distance goes over the bar.

On 56 minutes, with Church camped in their own box, Lycett tries hs luck from the edge of the box, and once again Evans is forced into action; this time to touch the drive over the bar.

The game had an end to end feel to it now, but defences at both ends of the pitch were on top. Rushall were keen to get the ball forward and into the danger area quickly, with Lycett a particularly a threat down the left, but the Church defence were well marshalled and concentrated on the clean sheet.

Even to the final chance there was constant danger, ad five minutes into stoppage tie a free kick is swung in from the right and a glancing header drops just wide of the far post, and in the last action the ball is delivered into a crowded area and Evans punches the final piece of danger away to herald the final whistle.