ALVECHURCH’S run in the FA Trophy ended at the fourth round stage following a cruel penalty shootout defeat against 10-man Yeovil Town.
Church pushed the Glovers all the way at Huish Park as the game ended in a goalless draw at the end of regulation time.
Yeovil played with 10-men for more than an hour after Brett McGavin received two yellow cards inside the first 25 minutes.
However, the National League side triumphed 4-1 on penalties to bring an end to Alvechurch’s historic run in the competition.
Playing in the fourth round of the competition for the first time in their history, Church faced a Yeovil side who play two divisions higher in the National League.
Yeovil spurned a glorious chance to take the lead early on as Luke McCormick headed straight at Jenson Kilroy in the Church goal from six-yards out.
And McCormick sent another header over the crossbar from four-yards out after the home side floated a free-kick into the penalty area.
The Glovers remained on top as Kilroy smothered Kyle Ferguson’s header following a corner from the right.
Church responded with a chance of their own as Jed Ward saved Callum Sullivan’s shot behind after the former fumbled a routine pick-up in the box.
However, Yeovil had McGavin sent off on 24 minutes after he picked up a second yellow card for a strong challenge on Will Merrett.
Despite playing with a man less, the home side almost broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time only for McCormick to shoot wide when one-on-one with Kilroy.
Church tested the Yeovil goal just before the hour mark as Tope Obadeyi saw his powerful free-kick from 25-yards out punched to safety by Ward.
Kilroy came to Church’s rescue again later in the second half as he sprawled himself to keep out Dakarai Mafico’s low shot.
The feet of Kilroy then denied Josh Sims before Aaron Jarvis saw his follow-up effort blocked behind by a wall of Church defenders.
Neither side could find a breakthrough in regulation time which meant the tie would be decided by penalties.
Yeovil took the first kick as substitute Tahvon Campbell confidently found the back of the net before Obadeyi struck the post.
The home side doubled their lead in the shootout as McCormick found the top corner while Ward denied Joe Willis.
Another confident spot kick from Mafico put Yeovil on the brink of victory as Szhem Whyte-Hall rolled his effort into the bottom left corner to keep Church in the contest.
However, despite Kilroy denying Finn Cousin-Dawson from the spot, Ethan Sephton saw his penalty saved by Ward to which confirmed Church’s exit from the competition.
Church finally succumbed to defeat on penalties after winning all four of their other Trophy ties this season on spot kicks.
Alvechurch are next in action against Kettering Town on Saturday, January 17 with kick-off at 3pm at Latimer Park.
