Football
Buoyant Alvechurch make it a hat-trick of victories

ALVECHURCH have enjoyed a fantastic week in their battle to escape Midland Alliance relegation with two victories at Lye Meadow taking them to within a point of escaping the bottom three.

Fresh from last Tuesday's 5-1 thrashing of visitors Highgate United, Alvechurch have gone on to deservedly defeat Heath Hayes 2-0 on Saturday before seeing off Kirby Muxloe 1-0 on Tuesday.

The haul of maximum points leaves joint managers Graham Scott and Vaughan Pearshouse purring at the form of their side as they prepare for two more Lye Meadow encounters as tomorrow's visit of Stratford Town is followed by a home clash against title-chasing Gresley on Tuesday.

Tuesday's victory over Kirby Muxloe was a particularly satisfying one for the hosts as it represented their first Alliance success over the Leicestershire side in six attempts.

It was a fully deserved three points too as forwards Joe Wright and Andy Nicol again linked up well together.

The winner arrived in the 19th minute when Lee Dunkley fed Elliot Nash and the winger fired in a shot which visiting keeper Holyoak could only parry into the path of Nicol who converted from close range.

Despite being the better side Alvechurch were unable to increase their lead before the break, but resumed after the interval with renewed vigour.

Wright slipped Nicol in on goal but the latter fired just wide and then curled just over the bar, before twice Nash may have done better when well placed.

However, the misses did not prove costly as Alvechurch clinched another win which built perfectly on Saturday's success against Heath Hayes.

The hero in that encounter was Wright whose brace of goals was deserved reward for another tireless shift up front.

With the defence looking solid as it was superbly marshalled by captain Tom Elder, the hosts always looked confident and almost took a 23rd minute lead, only for Nicol's overhead kick to rebound off the bar.

The breakthrough arrived in the 56th minute when Wright powered a header home from Daley Cameron's cross to cap a sweeping move.

The points were clinched with 15 minutes remaining when Wright latched on to a long ball and showed tenacity to hold off his marker and slide the ball home from the edge of the area.

Alvechurch, now just a point behind local rivals Studley with a game in hand, now turn their attentions to hosting a Stratford side still reeling from their midweek League Cup exit to the Bees.