Depleted Church Suffer Derby Defeat

Alvechurch: Jezeph, Ezewele, Sephton, Turton, Patterson, Carter, Dias, Hallahan, Waldron, Clayton-Phillips, Hamilton (Candlin 81)
Subs not used: Phillips, Bellis

Redditch United: Boucher, Ashmore, Bunn, Djurovic, Wollacott, Rowe, Williams (Martin 90), Sweeney, Nassunculo (Jallow 69), Cox, Soleman

Subs not used: Dawes, Digie, Roke

Church’s unbeaten run came to an end after nine games, with the last defeat in any competition having come on 11th November in a Worcester Senior Cup defeat against the same opposition at the same venue. It was also a second game in succession that Church had registered a blank in the goals for column. The first time that has occurred this season.

A depleted starting eleven was missing key players in Willets, Cassidy, McLintock and Brown to name but four, and with only two outfield players on the bench, the team sheet had a somewhat bare bones look about it.

Unsurprisingly, the hosts began strongly as Church took a little while to find their feet in the game.

On 7 minutes Nassunculo shoots from the edge of the box and Jezeph is forced to claw the ball away at the foot of the post.

Church’s forays looked promising, with the visitors wide play making inroads into the final third of the pitch, but inevitably the ball into the box failed to find a Church player on hand to find a decisive touch. One such example on the quarter hour saw Clayton-Phillips tear through to the by-line, but his inviting ball across the Redditch box went behind the three Church men on-rushing into the box.

On 17 a let off for Church when a shot from Rowe took a wicked deflection and looped up and over Jezeph before smacking off the face of the bar.

Another great run from Sephton on 31, picking the ball up deep in his own half, culminated with his angled shot inside the box being blocked ten yards out. In the follow up attack Dias rifled a shot inches wide from 25 yards as Church were looking the more dangerous side for the first time in the match.

A good chance for Church on 37 when Dias was fouled on the edge of the box, but from a promising position a disappointing result as his free kick was blocked by the defensive wall. Another free kick on the stroke of half time was this time delivered by Turton, and Carter meets it well with his head, but cannot divert the ball on target.

Half Time: Redditch United 0 Alvechurch 0

A much better half from Church followed, despite Redditch having the best chance early on. Just four minutes in and Jezeph is called upon to make a fine save to deny Sweeney who had shot hard and low through a ruck of players from just inside the Church box.

A good spell for Church followed, with a great chance for Waldron on 55 when Halloran drilled the ball into the area, Hamilton laid off for Waldron, and the latter’s drive flew over from twelve yards.

Three minutes later, Sephton robbed Ashmore on half way, and after tracking forward floated a cross into the heart of the Redditch area, where Waldron meets it and glances a header just over with Boucher a spectator.

Boucher was more than a spectator on 72 minutes when he had to palm over an effort from Hamilton after the Church player had skinned Bunn before powering an angled drive on target.

But there was to be a sucker punch on 83 minutes after Church gave the ball away cheaply in midfield, putting Redditch on the front foot. After winning a corner the home side found a chink in Church’s armour at last, as the near post ball was headed in by Sweeney from close range.

A battling performance from Church, just lacking that bit of quality in front of goal, and having weathered early pressure from the hosts the visitors failed to make the most of their own openings – at some cost.