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Tue 17 Dec 2024
Alvechurch F.C.
First Team
2
2
Stourbridge
When Ten Is Better Than Eleven

When Ten Is Better Than Eleven

Alan Deakin20 Dec - 11:44

Despite playing seventy five minutes with a man disadvantage, Church proved themselves as the ten men came from two down to grab a deserved spot in the Senior Cup Semi Finals.

Just over a quarter of an hour into the Worcestershire Senior Cup Quarter Final tie, it seemed that Church's optimism at a positive start to the game was completely blown as they conceded a penalty and were reduced to ten men in the process.
A good early period of pressure from Church had seen a series of assaults on the Stourbridge goal, with a defensive header over the bar to clear a Sterling-James free kick followed by a finger tip save from keeper Graham to deny Sullivan from the recycled corner providing encouragement for the home crowd on a cold and wet night.
A third effort from the resulting corner saw Willock head wide at the far post.

But this positivity seemed to drain away on 16 minutes just after Stourbridge had won their first corner.
This was cleared at the expense of a second, which resulted in two strikes on goal, the second of which resulted in a handball call that saw the visitors awarded a penalty, and Church skipper Krystian Pearce receive a red card. McLeod converted the spot kick off the inside of the post to put the Glassboys one up.

Church continued to threaten however, and undaunted a snap shot from Sterling-James from just outside the box was deflected inches wide, and a cross from the same player was met by Willock whose effort drew a smart one handed save from Graham, after the keeper at first appeared to be diving in the wrong direction.

Sterling-James was not done, and on 40 minutes he sends a 40 yard free kick looping over Graham, with the ball coming back off the frame of the goal, hitting the keeper on the back, and almost squirming over the line. Audacious from the Church man, displaying great vision of how to change a game.
He is on target again before the half draws to a close - again from range - but this is more comfortable for Graham as he is well positioned to get safely behind the shot.

Half Time : Alvechurch 0 Stourbridge 1

Church finished the half strongly, and there is a real feeling that the longer they stay in this game, the more realistically one moment of magic, or a mistake by the visitors, could change the complexion completely.

But best laid plans and all that : within eleven minutes of the second half Stourbridge have doubled their lead, somewhat against the run of play.
Mandey ultimately slides the ball in from fifteen yards after a quick break had led to an overload for the attacking side on the edge of the Church box.

This could have been a death knell for the tie, but withing three minutes Church had reduced the arrears back to one. An opportunistic goal for Shay Willock after the ball had been lofted into the Stourbridge half, and the Church striker was first to the ball, poking it past the advancing Graham who had advanced to the edge of his box.

Renewed belief for the home side, and almost an equaliser on 65 minutes after a great break from Church, Sullivan delivers the ball across the face of goal, and Willock swivels and shoots on target, drawing another good save from Graham.

Three minutes later, it is Church again who look the likely side to score. A looped ball from Sterling-James, and a volleyed effort from Dyer from just inside the box is just wide.

The game enters its final ten minutes and there is still so much hope. A great interchange between Stretton and Dyer and Perry opens up the Stourbridge defence, and the final effort from Perry is just off target. But it is proving that the ten men are undaunted and this game is not yet finished.

And so it proved just a minute later, when Sterling-James and Willock combine to put pressure on the retreating Stourbridge defence. Willock takes possession, and then strokes the ball in from inside the box for a deserved equaliser.

Penalties now beckon - a creditable outcome for Church given how the game has panned out. A last minute goal line clearance from teh Church defence ushers in the shoot out.

Church go first, but Willis sees his spot kick saved. the next four penalties are scored (Dyer and Sterling-James for Church), but with the scores tied a 2-2 Stourbridge put one over the bar.
Level now, with two spot kicks to go for each.
Willock scores, Pais scores, and Stretton converts the last of Church's regulation five.
Dale Eve can now be the hero as he faces Mandey, and so it proves as he saves the kick low to his left to put Church through 4-3.

Church progress to face Bromsgrove in the Semi Finals - possibly looking unlikely after trailing 0-2, being down to ten men, and then having rallied to miss the first kick in the penalty shoot out.

Match details

Match date

Tue 17 Dec 2024

Kickoff

19:45
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