Football
Leaders complete double over Alvechurch

Alvechurch 1 Stratford Town 3

Midland Alliance

LEADERS Town completed an early double over Alvechurch on Saturday to strengthen their position at the top of the table.

The visitors included new signing Tyrone Fagan on the bench and got off to the perfect start by taking a second minute lead when Harry Donaghey's corner was flicked on by Tony Robinson and central defender Luke Edwards bundled the ball home from close range.

The impressive Josh O'Grady almost doubled the lead with a well struck shot which was saved at the second attempt by home keeper Liam Maher.

The youthful - but clearly talented - home side gradually got into their stride and Town keeper Brendan Hazlett required lengthy treatment in bravely preventing Jazz Luckie from converting a dangerous cross by Tristan Dunkley.

Alvechurch deservedly equalised after 36 minutes when a deflected shot from Omari Sterling-James was only parried by Hazlett and Luckie pounced from close range.

Hazlett, struggling with a leg injury, was replaced by Chris Jay for the second half but Town were first to threaten with Joe Halsall heading Robinson's cross inches over the bar.

Halsall then turned provider by setting up Chris Lait who fired just wide, whilst O'Grady had a stinging drive smartly saved by Maher.

Increasing Town pressure was finally rewarded after 65 minutes when the alert Lait robbed Adam Humphries and burst clear before delivering a cross for Robinson to finish.

Fagan, beginning his second spell for Town after joining from Rugby Town, entered the fray midway through the second half and made his mark by scoring within four minutes.

O'Grady carved open the home defence with an astute through ball into the path of Fagan who easily beat the advancing Maher.

Alvechurch hit straight back and Ryan Edmunds had a well struck free kick turned over the bar by Jay, who was then relieved to see a header from Gary Ray rattle the bar.

However, Town held on to stretch their unbeaten league record to 12 games.

Alvechurch are eighth in the table heading into tomorrow's visit of Heather St John's, before they welcome Leamington to Lye Meadow on Tuesday for a Birmingham Senior Cup first round tie.

STUDLEY began well at Tividale but it was all downhill from then on as they suffered a thumping 7-0 defeat.

Within the first 30 seconds Leon Blake tested Tividale goalkeeper Lloyd Evans with a low drive from 20 yards and less than a minute later the same player tried his luck again but once more found Evans equal to his effort.

Studley looked the most likely team to break the deadlock and really should have been in front on ten minutes when the enterprising Tom Lacey shot weakly wide when well placed with only the goalkeeper to beat.

However, from then on Tividale bossed proceedings and goals from Kyle Hill, Gerald Mulholland, Matt Jukes, Richard Taylor (2), Avun Jephcott and Adam Hill saw them cruise to victory.

The 15th placed Bees visit Loughborough University tomorrow.

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