ALVECHURCH’S positive start to life in Northern League Division One South continued as they picked up a 1-1 draw at Gresley on Tuesday.
The Derbyshire hosts got off to good start, taking the lead after just four minutes through Matt Melbourne.
However, the visitors were building up a head of steam and were pressing and that pressure paid off on 19 minutes.
A good run down the left from Babacar Sauane was finished off with a cross which was headed home from close range by Josh March.
Church continued to press but were profligate with their chances with March first firing well over the bar and following it up with a shot from distance straight at Brendan Bunn.
Another chance was squandered when Danny Dubidat met a cross from the left but fired well over the bar from a very good position.
Within a minute of the second half starting, the visitors themselves were denied by the woodwork.
A Tom Turton corner from the right was met by Luke Yates but his powerful header hit the bar.
They went close again minutes later when Yates was sent through in on goal but a good block from Bunn kept the score level come full time.
The draw for Church came after they marked their return to Step Four after 25 years out with a 3-1 home victory over Leek Town on Saturday.
It took just 13 minutes for Ian Long’s men to make their mark as Turton’s corner was headed by March into the path of Yates who swept home from close range.
The influential March then grabbed the hosts’ second of the game on the stroke of the hour mark with a sublime curling effort from 20 yards after being played in by Turton.
Turton then saw a free kick fizz wide of the post before he got himself on scoresheet with 21 minutes remaining by converting a penalty which was awarded after Jack Cresswell was tripped in the area.
Tim Grice reduced the arrears for Leek from 12 yards out after 74 minutes but it was a mere consolation as the Lye Meadow outfit closed out an impressive victory.
