Football
High fives as Alvechurch claim crucial win

Liam Moakes reports from Lye Meadow

ALVECHURCH served notice they mean business in their battle to beat the Midland Alliance drop as they powered to a 5-1 victory over relegation rivals Highgate United at Lye Meadow on Tuesday.

The damage was done in a devastating first half display in which joint managers Vaughan Pearshouse and Graham Scott looked on in delight as they finally saw their side bag their first home league win of the season at the 12th time of asking.

On this evidence - and with four home matches in succession to follow - Alvechurch supporters may not have to wait long to see another as the wing wizardry of Belgian import Kevin Borrey and Elliot Nash in particular tormented Highgate throughout and suggested chances will not be at a premium for Alvechurch in their 16 remaining league games.

The hosts almost struck inside two minutes as new striking recruit Joe Wright forced visiting keeper Shawn Edwards into a fine save to keep out his goalbound header, although in a bright start to the match Highgate came close themselves three minutes later when Steve Jackson's teasing cross from the right was almost converted at the back post by Junior Bennett.

That was as good as the first half got for Gate though as Alvechurch took command from then on once taking an eighth minute lead through Nash.

A sweeping move out of defence culminated in Andy Nicol's sublime flick releasing Nash on the left and his pace proved far too hot for Oliver Casey to handle as he cut inside before emphatically firing past Edwards from close range.

Nicol and Nash scented blood and it was no surprise when the lead was doubled in the 18th minute - just a minute after more good approach work by Nash had almost got Nicol in on goal.

The visitors' reprieve was shortlived as a cross from the right by the other recent Belgian arrival, David Kalonji, was only half cleared and Nicol struck a right-footed volley from 16 yards which flew past Edwards into the top right corner of the net.

Five minutes later the outcome of the match was as good as settled when Matt Ross chopped down Dave Glaze outside the Highgate area and Borrey powered home the resulting free kick into the top right corner from 25 yards to leave Edwards clutching thin air.

Highgate just could not get a foothold in the game and when they did threaten it ultimately ended in them falling 4-0 behind in the 43rd minute.

Joshua Allen-Noble did well down the left to win a corner but Alvechurch counter-attacked from the set piece superbly and Wright was found in acres of space wide left, which allowed him to home in on goal and coolly slide the ball into the bottom corner beyond Edwards' dive to his left.

Wright could still have made it 5-0 before the interval but could only fire tamely at Edwards with a left-footed strike on the turn having worked a promising position on the edge of the area.

The break did nothing to alter the pattern of the match in the second half as within five minutes of the restart Glaze and Borrey had almost worked shooting positions after cutting in from the left and right flanks respectively.

On the hour mark Highgate's Jackson finally gave Lewis Gwilliams in the home goal something to think about with a mazy run which saw him cut in from the left, but the stopper was able to gather his strike routinely despite an awkward bounce in front of him.

Three minutes later Lee Dunkley - who worked tirelessly in the Alvechurch midfield throughout - slipped Nicol in on goal but Edwards was quickly off his line to deny the striker with a fine close range save.

Highgate reduced their arrears in the 67th minute when they awarded a penalty for handball - much to the bemusement of most people in the ground - and Casey's spot kick found the net off the inside of the post as Gwilliams' touch on the ball just failed to prevent the goal.

Alvechurch deserved the final say in this encounter though and duly had it when Nash beat three defenders on the left before squaring a fine ball to Borrey on the right whose cross was converted with ease at close range by late substitute Ross Dempster in the 81st minute.

Jackson saw a shot beaten away at the other end before Nash almost capped a fine display with a second goal when he turned Ross inside out before rolling a shot beyond Edwards, only for the ball to rebound into his grateful arms off the inside of the post.

The victory lifts Alvechurch - narrowly beaten 1-0 at leaders Coventry Sphinx on Saturday - above Highgate on goal difference and they are now third from bottom, just six points behind local rivals Studley with two games in hand.

Tomorrow's visit of mid-table Heath Hayes to Lye Meadow and another home match against mid-table Kirby Muxloe on Tuesday now represent a good chance for Alvechurch to put real pressure on the sides above them in the battle for survival.