Coming into the game on the back of their first defeat in two matches against Worcester City, Richard Tonks' men were keen to right the wrongs from last week. A late capitulation saw Church thrashed on home turf, and were keen to end their barren home run, which has seen them win just once on their own patch all season, despite only playing 5 league games there. Their only solid win at The Hayes came against local neighbours Redditch United. In the middle of that, they have overseen three defeats and one draw. Keen to end that run, keen to reignite their season.

On the other hand, the visitors arrived into the contest full of confidence sitting kindly in 4th and on a seven-game unbeaten run since their defeat to fifth-placed Malvern Town back in September. Just the one defeat all season, Church' task wasn't getting any easier but this time, they wanted to challenge and make sure that they didn't let the score-line affect their performance levels. Keen to send out their own statement. But, faced the daunting challenge that Lye Town pose.

HOW IT UNFOLDED:
For the opening 25 minutes, there was a feeling that Church were in for one of those evenings. Pinned in their own half, struggling to get out, being absolutely battered for the opening quarter of the encounter. Quite literally.

It only took two minutes for the most in-form team in the division to have their first chance of the game. A complete flip of a coin for both sides in terms of confidence. The hosts' defence went to clear the ball from the cross that was teased into the box but miscued the flight of the ball allowing the chance to finish from 12 yards out. However, the striker couldn't keep his composure as he let fly with his left boot, the shot travelled wide of the woodwork.

On 9 minutes, Lye's relentless pressure was starting to mount. A case of when, not if. Having beaten three challenges, the midfielder kept driving forward before taking the strike on from 25 yards forcing Owen to scramble across the face of his goal to make an outstanding save down to his right-hand side and deny the visiting side the lead.

Battered in every regard so far. Another golden opportunity to take the lead arrived just six minutes after. Our goalkeeper was called into action again. Lye stretched the Church defence allowing the striker to hit the effort on the half-volley and force Owen into another magnificent high dive save. The shot was definitely arrowing into the top left-hand corner, so to tip it away was a real testament to how much Owen wanted to keep the score-line level.

Four minutes on, and another huge chance to make the breakthrough spurned. The winger managed to beat our defence to the ball before delivering a telling ball into the box. The striker made a movement to the front post leaving him in acres of space. All on his own, all he needed was the finish, but he couldn't convert as his effort headed over the top of the crossbar.

23 minutes gone on the clock, and Church had exited their own half about three times. An onslaught from the visitors, who could smell blood and really in the mood to take it away from Tonks' side. Owen was needed again. A free-kick strike from 30 yards out was nestling into the side-netting of the back of the net. Somehow, Owen managed to get a strong left-hand to the shot and tip it behind for a corner kick. An incredible save to keep us level. Really fortunate to be all square, in all honesty, until seconds later.

From the resulting corner that Owen couldn't help avoid, Lye profited. A beautiful cross into the area was met perfectly at the near post after a quick fire dart to the front, the defender's guiding header was glanced on and landed perfectly into the far right-hand corner to give them the deserved lead based on the way things had gone. A really tough performance so far from Church, who were really struggling.

OUT OF NOWHERE! CHURCH SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEVEL!

The travelling team completely switched off and Alvechurch nearly took full advantage, they probably should have! Jaelon West broke down the line, driving towards the by-line. He skipped inside before setting Keyl Shaft up wonderfully. He came onto the ball, side-footing the effort, which was inches away from finding the far corner but the goalkeeper made a fantastic save to deny us - one we will be disappointed with.

The shot that should have been a goal came back to bite us though. Against the good sides, it's about taking the chances that come your way but on this occasion, we couldn't and were then punished for the missed chance. Harsh, but that's football. A breakaway from our corner kick left us short of options at the back. Scrambling to get back in numbers, the home team failed to make up the ground and the finish was devastating as the striker clinically slammed home from a few yards out to double the advantage.

You're always most vulnerable after scoring a goal, the saying is. Even more so, 2-0 is always a dangerous score-line. The next goal was vital, and it was key that we got it to ensure that the game wasn't taken away from us so early on nor killed any lingering hope of a comeback and not completely kill the belief and confidence.

Barely a minute after doubling the lead, Church made it count this time. A daft challenge inside the area from a trailing leg saw Lewis Hart go down inside the area. The man that scored a stunner last week to give us the lead against W. City, now had the chance to drag us back into the match despite being under severe pressure for 95% of the game. Hart stepped up and saw his initial shot saved by the goalkeeper only for the rebound to fall kindly to him, he made no mistake with the second chance as he lifted it over the keeper.

From that moment, it reinstalled genuine hope and belief that they could still rally to find something from the match-up.

We suffered a heavy blow with the final kick of the first half though as we conceded a sloppy third goal. A short free-kick was taken quickly, leaving the hosts unsettled and nowhere near set to get out of the area to close the shot down. The effort was cannoned in and took a wicked deflection wrong-footing Owen in between the sticks. Rooted to the spot, he could only watch it sail into the net and restore the two-goal cushion heading into the interval.

HT: ALVECHURCH 1-3 LYE TOWN JUNIORS

At the break, Church said to themselves to go back out there and really show the fighting spirit that they know they have within themselves - we have seen it in glimpses this campaign. Beating the league leaders before backing that up with a sensational win at fifth-placed Studley Juniors, who beat us in our opening home game of the season. They've shown that they can do it, so the question was could they show enough in the second period to warrant anything from the game?

A change of tactics, a change of motivation saw the group rally together and really show their togetherness on that pitch.

Not a lot in the way of chances from either team but it was miles better from the home team, who started to lay a glove on their opponents and really being in their faces. Making it tough for Town, who themselves were now finding it difficult to get out of their own half. They were desperately trying to, so they could find the killer goal. But, Church were being brave and now forcing them into small mistakes that was igniting the fuel within the Church bodies.

Pressing together as a group nearly paid off just five minutes into the second half. Harry was quick to follow in after the midfielder dropped the ball back to his goalkeeper. The goalkeeper thought he had more time than he imagined, but Harry was quick and forced him to rush the clearance. Fortunately for Lye and incredibly unlucky for the Alvechurch, the clearance was whacked right at our fellow striker leaving the ball to trickle out of play. Harry tried hard to keep the ball in play and was close to doing so, but the ball was adjudged to have crossed the white line.

You could sense the fear and anxiety in the ground. Tension starting to rapidly rise for the management group, who were keen to find that fourth goal but Tonks' side showing no signs of slowing down their rampant pressure, finding more room on the pitch to drive forward. A wonderfully floated ball over the top was latched onto by Max Iles. The goalkeeper came flying out but Iles couldn't quite generate the power needed to lift it over him and into the empty net. Chance gone.

Half hour left on the clock, and they were searching for the route back in, and the goal to halve the deficit. Ewan Tombleson found Harry in the right-hand channel. He continued his brilliant run, took it wider than he would have hoped for. The ball continuing to bobble up, he hit the strike on the half volley forcing the goalkeeper into a smart save down to his left to deny us!

Twenty minutes remaining, they got their reward for a unreal second half performance. Owen delivered a teasing ball into the area for the Church to attack, but two of our players were dragged to the floor and it resulted in a second penalty of the evening. A real chance to pull themselves right back into the thick of the encounter. SLAMMED HOME WITH REAL CONFIDENCE. Iles stepped up and rifled the ball into the back of the Lye net. Game On!!!

For that final quarter of the match, it was all Alvechurch. Crosses coming in from every angle, shots being drilled in, but no way through thus far. The chance of the evening to rescue a point came with one minute left on the referee's watch though. A floated cross came into the 18-yard area from the right-hand side and a Church player went for it, missed the ball and the second Church player following in somehow saw his header flashed wide of the mark considering he was 15 yards out! A huge chance to rescue an unlikely point.

One thing I will say though is... we are incredibly proud of the players. They took on the instructions and played in that second half. Just couldn't find that final touch, or finish, to snatch something at the end. Gutted, but left ourselves with a mountain to climb at the break - take that second-half performance into Monday Night's test against Hereford.

FT: ALVECHURCH 2-3 LYE TOWN JUNIORS