On the back of an exit in the league cup against Coventry City, Church had their biggest game of the campaign so far as they welcomed Premier Division side Coundon Court U16s Girls in the last four of the Birmingham County FA County Cup aiming to grab a date with destiny in April. Knowing Stourbridge had secured their place in the final just an hour before kick-off, the chance for both sides was there in waiting to take on the Glassgirls.

HOW IT UNFOLDED:
Within one minute of the encounter, the home side had the woodwork to thank as it came to their rescue. A strike from long range was excellent as it was thundered in, but the post denied the visitors the lead before the hosts managed to recover to clear the impending danger that was developing.

Four minutes after the first opportunity of the contest, Alvechurch generated their first chance of the game as we came close to opening the scoring. A corner is swung in and the ball was helped on for Gabby Swadkins, who volleyed the effort goal-wards and the goalkeeper managed to stand her ground to hold on to the effort.

On 16 minutes, we made the breakthrough. Olivia Betts breaks past two challenges, cutting in and unleashing a powerful drive under the goalkeeper, who couldn't hold on this time and it landed in the net as Chris Gagg's side got their noses in-front. A brilliant passage of play allowed them to break open the visiting side's defence.

Three minutes on, and Alvechurch had Katy Caswell to thank in that defence. The ball broke kindly for the Coundon attacker as she ran clean on goal to finish, but Caswell recovered brilliantly to make an outstanding tackle in the middle to deny the away side from levelling things up in the cup tie.

CLOSE AGAIN! Church were well and truly up for this cup encounter as they sought out a second goal and make it more comfortable. Betts, who was causing all sorts of problems, managed to break beyond the last defender, she travelled a long way with the ball shrugging off the challenges being thrown in. As she arrived at the final part, the strike was brilliantly saved by the out-stretched leg from the opposition goalkeeper.

HT: ALVECHURCH 1-0 COUNDON COURT

In the second period, it was all hands on deck for Church whilst the kitchen sink was ready to be thrown by the travelling team.

But it was the opposite for Alvechurch, who were causing all the chaos for the visitors. They were really setting their stall out against the higher tier opponents. On 52 minutes, Ruth Tarnowski drove with power and purpose. Her dazzling run saw her enter the final third before taking the shot on from distance, but her effort was dragged wide of the mark.

As the climax was reaching its conclusion, Betts chased down the long ball that was sent into the channel. Identical to her first goal, she cut in past two or three tackles being thrown in by her opposition challengers. She used her silky footwork to open up the space and as the shot was fired in, there was a superb last-ditch tackle in the centre to deny us a second.

Church really pressing for that second and with 10 minutes remaining, they came to within a whisker of finding it. The ball came in from the right-hand side, and Regan Bennett attempted an audacious volley with her outstretched right foot. The volley almost ended up being a goal of the season contender but the shot struck the outside of the post before trickling out of play.

Grace Ford was the next home player to try her luck and try to secure that important second. A free-kick from distance was cannoned in and the goalkeeper stretched above her to make a comfortable save in the end.

With two minutes left of the gripping semi-final, a goal-mouth scramble saw the hosts make an initial block in the middle before the ball fell kindly for the free forward at the back post. The shot was rifled towards goal and going in but Rosie Sample threw herself in-front of the strike to make an important and super block to deny a leveller.

FT: ALVECHURCH 1-0 COUNDON COURT