Ten-man Alvechurch thump high-flying Mikes - The Redditch Standard

Ten-man Alvechurch thump high-flying Mikes

Redditch Editorial 4th Dec, 2014 Updated: 18th Oct, 2016   0

ALVECHURCH ended a five-match winless Midland Football League Premier Division sequence with an excellent 4-1 victory over third placed Boldmere St Michaels at Lye Meadow on Tuesday.

The Mikes have been a bogey side to Alvechurch in recent times so this win, coupled with the fact the hosts had stand-in goalkeeper Keith Rostill sent off in the 40th minute, was all the more impressive.

Lee Adams’ side had come into the match on the back of a 4-1 defeat at Quorn on Saturday but showed no signs of being downhearted as they surged into a 2-0 lead inside 14 minutes.

The visitors had already spurned two chances before Michael McGrath proved to be the architect and finisher of the first goal as he blasted home from 12 yards to cap a fine move involving Luke Shearer and Gareth Evans.




The lead was doubled when the tenacity of Evans won possession on the edge of the Boldmere box and he teed up Jamie Cosgrave who drove in the second goal from 25 yards courtesy of a slight deflection.

In the 17th minute Evans was a whisker away from making it 3-0 when he just failed to connect with Brendan Kelly’s fine cross, but it was 2-1 in the 28th minute when Kieran Westwood drilled a low shot low into the corner from the edge of the box.


Soon afterwards the match appeared to have taken a decisive swing in the visitors’ favour when Rostill was red-carded after clashing with Kieron Clarke just outside the box, despite seemingly making a genuine attempt to intercept a bouncing ball.

Andy Nicol took over between the sticks for the hosts, who were probably fearing an onslaught from then on, but it never materialised.

In fact, Alvechurch looked far more likely to add to the scoring in the second half despite having a makeshift keeper and being a man down.

Adams’ side restored their two-goal lead on 63 minutes when McGrath’s inswinging free kick from wide on the right was met by Shearer who ghosted in at the back post to sweep the ball in from close range.

A superb night for Alvechurch was capped in the 88th minute when Shearer evaded two challenges near the Boldmere goalline and centred across the six-yard box to pick out Joe Adams who gleefully converted from close range.

Indeed, the only disappointment on the night for the Alvechurch faithful will be the fact they may wonder why their team is no higher than mid-table when capable of performances like this, especially against the odds.

Three days earlier Alvechurch had slipped to a 4-1 loss at Quorn, with a late goal from Evans, who converted Shearer’s cross, their only consolation.

Alvechurch were not without their chances as Evans, Cosgrave, McGrath and Aaron Roberts all went close, but the Leicestershire side were more clinical and emerged deserved winners.

Alvechurch are back in league action at Lye Meadow on Saturday when they host AFC Wulfrunians before another home game on Tuesday against league rivals Brocton in the JW Hunt Cup.

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