Coming into the game on the back of a two-week break for our Super League team, they were searching for a reaction to the defeat that was handed out to them by league leaders Tamworth in their last outing. They welcomed a tough Future Pro Academy side, who sat three places above them in the table and a nine point gap between the two sides at the start of play.

With a much depleted squad, the task got a whole load tougher than anticipated but Tyrone Barnett's men rallied themselves and produced a memorable performance.

HOW IT UNFOLDED:
The visitors got us underway for the final Future Lions fixture of 2024 and it was the start that we were looking for. The reaction they were after and it couldn't have started in better fashion for the Church.

A nice floated and weighted ball over the top from Dieter Schwarm fell kindly into the path of the lethal Taylor Mason. Mason still had a lot do in the position he found himself in. A strike from the edge of the box was straight at the goalkeeper, but the effort was too hot to handle and the ball dropped into the net before he could react to set off the celebrations with three minutes.

Future Pro reacted well to the setback. As 16 minutes flashed by, Spike Whitehouse was called into action on a few occasions as he made some important saves to deny them a leveller from close range efforts.

Despite their reaction, the home team still looked dangerous on the transition. Mason had an opportunity from the edge of the area from the free-kick but he curled his strike just wide of the mark. Two minutes later, some brilliant hold-up play by Adul Shamiri then turned into a wonderful ball into the channel for Will Hicks to latch onto. Hicks picked his head up and delivered the cross on a plate for stand-in striker Justin Lewis, who saw his header fly inches past the far post to deny us a two-goal lead.

On 29 minutes, Church had a three vs one situation and a golden opportunity to grab that second goal. Lewis had options both left and right. He opted to pass it right and as we got to the final stage of the counter-attack, Mason's first-touch let him down and the chance was squandered.

But all of the chances missed were forgotten about on the stroke of the half-time whistle. Three minutes out from the interval, Lewis did get his moment. The hosts got a fortunate break of the ball and Lewis had the entire half to make up for. He drove forward with pace before getting into the area and composing himself to rifle the ball into the back of the net.

There was a scare at the end of the half though. The away side's winger managed to arrive into the danger area. He picked out his man in the middle and the striker's fantastic shot came back of the top of the crossbar to deny them a route back into the encounter.

HT: ALVECHURCH 2-0 FUTURE PRO

Time to go again...

As expected, the away side went in search of finding a glimmer of hope. On 47 minutes, they had a great chance but one of them strange moments you don't see very often. The striker was clean on goal but due to the shout "Leave it", the referee called it back and Church were able to breathe a huge sigh of relief.

That chance seemed to kick the visitors into the mood though. The next chance you will never believe. You have to see it to believe it.

Seven minutes into the second half, how they weren't on the scoresheet will forever be a question. Future Pro carved open the Church defence. The winger at the far post was ready for a tap-in but he swiped at the ball and miscued his effort. The ball somehow fell ever so kindly for their open striker in the middle. He rifled it towards goal like a bullet but some heroic defending on the line ensured it didn't go over before two away players dived in for it and bodies were being thrown in-front of the ball. The ball just didn't want to go over the line as the final strike cannoned off the inside of the post before being scrambled away to safety.

But they were on the scoresheet just five minutes later. The pressure took its toll and it was now game on. A wicked corner delivery caused all kinds of problems in the middle for the home team and Future Pro took full advantage of it as they poked it over the line to halve the deficit.

You would have thought that would be the platform for the remainder of the half considering the start made to the second period but Tyrone Barnett's troopers galvanised themselves to come back stronger and now looked more likely to snatch a third. Clifford, introduced as a substitute, weaved his way past four markers with his magical feet. He opened up his body to slot into the far corner but was denied by a stunning save.

The game was settled with fourteen minutes remaining. Clifford caused the away side all sorts of issues since his introduction from the bench, as he continued his surging run before crossing hard and low for Shamiri, who ghosted in behind his marker and slip it underneath the goalkeeper to clinch the points at The Hayes.

FT: ALVECHURCH 3-1 FUTURE PRO

Exactly what the Super League team needed in terms of a performance. A wonderful, hard-working performance sees them finish 2024 with something to build on heading into the new year. But it was also exactly the reaction they needed to their 4-0 defeat dished out to them a fortnight ago. Confidence builder heading into their next fixture, the first of 2025.

Enjoy your well deserved break, lads. Have a good Christmas.