After back-to-back defeats in the league, the Church returned home aiming to end that barren run and get back to winning ways, which would lift them up to 5th in the MFYL Southern Division.

HOW IT UNFOLDED...
In very mild conditions, The Hayes was ready. Derby Day. Under The Lights. What more could you ask for on the Monday Night Football?

Three minutes into the encounter and Church went close. After a tangle in the heart of midfield, the hosts had a free-kick opportunity from 25 yards out. Max Iles stepped up to take and his rasping effort flew wide of the mark as Church set their stall out early on.

Although that fast start was hampered for the next 20 minutes of the contest as both sides fell into the trap of not keeping possession very well and the derby day feel had an extra spice to it with some crunching challenges flying in from either side as the tension started to rise.

However, on the half hour mark, a corner was swung in from the right and a Church body rose highest inside the penalty area but the opposition goalkeeper had a huge sigh of relief as the ball was comfortably taken in the end following a tame header.

On 35 minutes, the breakthrough came at last. A superb delivery from the midfield area fell perfectly onto the head of substitute striker Kashya Kameni, who met the ball ever so well and his crunching header smashed off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net to set off wild celebrations.

The celebrations were cut short though. Very short-lived in the end. Just two minutes after the goal, the visitors landed their own knockout blow as they levelled proceedings largely against the run of play. A free-kick from out wide was rifled in and the striker managed to guide the ball towards goal. Despite the best efforts to keep the shot out, it ended up trickling over the line and in for 1-1.

The home team had a golden chance to reclaim their advantage before the interval. Kameni was able to roll his marker's challenge before driving into the penalty area and his out-stretched leg managed to knock the ball beyond the helpless goalkeeper but the effort rolled past the far post by a matter of inches.

HT: ALVECHURCH 1-1 REDDITCH UNITED

A first half dominated by the home side in truth but all square at the break. Football for you sometimes.

It was important that Church stuck to their principles and came out fighting in the second period. Not just that though, but maintain a level of patience as the goal would come if they stuck to their task.

Words of a genius?

Just six minutes after the restart and the youngsters regained their deserved lead. Iles from the corner kick floated one in. The goalkeeper came out to claim it, but ended up misreading the situation. Kameni couldn't believe his luck as the ball dropped perfectly for him as he had the easiest of tasks to tap home into an empty net and give Church the lead.

On 63 minutes, Church needed a superb last-ditch sliding tackle to deny the visitors. A brilliantly worked move from the travelling side split the defence allowing the striker in on goal. But as he approached the finish, a fantastic tackle/block in the middle went out for a corner rather than in the home team's net.

Still living dangerously with the score-line at just the one goal between the two sides.

With nine minutes remaining, Church wrapped up the three points with a third goal of the evening. Ackerman was set on his way. The winger was able to venture forward and drove towards goal. His effort was parried away by the goalkeeper. From the words of the gaffer, he asked the Church boys to follow in at half-time. That's precisely what Josh King did as he followed in to tap home from a tight angle.

GAME. SET. MATCH.

The icing on top of the cake was added in injury time. A sweet fourth goal to rub salt into the already deep wounds of the Redditch side. A low driven cross fell kindly into the path of Lewis Hart. He controlled it well before sending two Redditch players to the cleaners. He opened up the angle before rifling his effort beyond the goalkeeper and into the far corner as the hosts returned to winning ways in the league.

FT: ALVECHURCH 4-1 REDDITCH UNITED

A breathless and ruthless second-half performance from the stars of the future. Three goals in the second period wrapped up a vital three points to put an end to their disappointments over the last couple of weeks and set them up nicely ahead of their next two home league fixtures against both Worcester Raiders and AFC Bridgnorth. The result also sees Richard Tonks' side leap up the table into 5th place.