ALVECHURCH produced a stirring late fightback to stun leaders Basford United with a 2-1 victory at Greenwich Avenue on Saturday which completed a league double over the Nottinghamshire outfit in the Midland Football League Premier Division.
Connor Deards’ 81st minute penalty hauled the visitors level and maximum points were secured when Daniel Williams struck in the third minute of stoppage time.
A fast-paced first half saw Alvechurch playing against the strong wind and they coped well.
Basford made a bright start and Jesse Race had to fling himself in front of Ruben Wiggins-Thomas’ goalbound strike, but the visitors also threatened and James Cosgrave sent Joel Ambalu through on goal with a defence-splitting pass but the latter fired just wide.
Deards then tested home keeper Saul Deeney, but it was Basford who broke the deadlock in the 44th minute when former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie tangled with Luke Dugmore in the area and the referee awarded a penalty which Wiggins-Thomas converted low to Shaun Edwards’ right.
There was danger for Alvechurch in the 56th minute when Toby Checketts impeded the run of Wiggins-Thomas as he looked to latch on to Hendrie’s through ball, but there was a covering defender and Checketts escaped the red card the hosts were calling for.
Midway through the second half Wiggins-Thomas fired inches wide of the visitors’ goal and it proved to be a costly miss as Alvechurch levelled when substitute Reis Woolley caused chaos in the home defence and was impeded, which resulted in the spot kick converted by Deards.
Delight was to follow for Alvechurch – who defeated Basford by the same scoreline at Lye Meadow in January – when a long throw-in from Jordan Cullinane-Liburd was not cleared and Williams struck the winner at the far post.
Alvechurch were denied the chance to claim another impressive scalp when Tuesday’s match at home to title-chasing Long Eaton United was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Lee Knight’s side face a mid-table battle against Shepshed Dynamo at Lye Meadow on Saturday.
Match report courtesy of www.pitchero.com/clubs/alvechurch.
