Below-par Alvechurch exit Vase on home soil - The Redditch Standard

Below-par Alvechurch exit Vase on home soil

Redditch Editorial 14th Nov, 2016   0

Alvechurch 1 Sporting Khalsa 2

FA Vase second round

WHAT had all the hallmarks of a thriller ended as a huge disappointment as Alvechurch’s FA Vase dreams were shattered by a late goal on Saturday, writes Colin Stoner.

Ian Long’s Churchmen and good pal Ian Rowe’s Sporting Khalsa have more than enough quality to think they could have lengthy runs on the minnows’ trail to Wembley, but neither side showed much of it in an eminently forgettable afternoon at Lye Meadow.




In a scrappy second round contest with few chances and little in the way of creativity, Dave Meese proved the hero for Khalsa as he bagged an 88th-minute winner.

Khalsa, who had drawn 2-2 after being 2-0 down in the sides’ Midland League Premier Division meeting last month, were ahead at half time thanks to Mensah Kinch’s eager finish to a horrendous defensive mix-up, but Jamie Spencer had levelled as the Churchmen finally found a way through.


Alvechurch, who had been second favourites to win the Vase, will lament their defensive errors as Khalsa barely tested home keeper Paul Evans but, attacking wise, they lacked the accuracy and assured play which had typified a run of seven league wins in a row.

Long’s men were in the ascendancy from the early stages when Josh Sarmento’s rasping drive from the edge of the area was brilliantly tipped over by Tom Turner.

Spencer rounded a defender and drilled wide and then Turner again rescued the visitors when he blocked Sarmento after Dave Bellis and Josh March combined.

Khalsa’s direct style had not troubled the hosts until on the stroke of half time a long punt forward created mayhem.

Home defender Jamie Willets, a Vase finalist with Hereford last season, decided to nod back towards his keeper but keeper Paul Evans had raced from his goal and the ball bounced past him to allow Kinch the easiest of tap-ins into an unguarded net.

Alvechurch were on level terms on 63 minutes when they finally managed to stretch the visitors. Zack Foster took a cross-field pass on the left and, although his cross flashed across the area, Connor Deards returned the ball from the right and Spencer thumped home from eight yards.

Turner was again tested to save Andy Parsons’ header but Alvechurch were fortunate to escape when midfielder Meese unleashed a 20-yarder which smacked the inside of the post and flashed across goal.

Another Meese effort from Tim Jackson’s corner brought a superb stop by the diving Evans but, in the 88th minute, it was third time lucky for Meese.

Kinch picked off a wayward Church pass on the halfway line, raced down the right and found Marvin Nisbett. Although Evans parried the striker’s shot, Meese was on hand to fire home.

Alvechurch still had time to equalise and Jack Cresswell should have done exactly that with the last attack of the game.

Put through on goal from Deards’ flick, he skipped around Turner and drilled a low shot towards the corner, only for defenders Tesfa Robinson and Carlo Franco to somehow block before the ball was scrambled away.

Leaders Alvechurch return to league action on Saturday at Rocester.

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