Football
Alvechurch sink Wolves in Birmingham Senior Cup

ALVECHURCH overcame the difficulties of a quagmire of a Lye Meadow pitch to defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 on Tuesday and book a place in the last eight of the Birmingham Senior Cup.

The tricky playing surface made flowing football difficult but the resilient hosts were good value for their victory over the Wolves U21s outfit.

The victory is further proof of the good progress being made by Alvechurch this season and their reward is a visit to Hednesford Town in the quarter-finals.

Wolves' Jordan Cranston sliced a shot wide in the opening minutes and at the other end Jazz Luckie was not far away with a long range drive.

Liam McAlinden did find the back of the Alvechurch net in the 26th minute but a lineman's flag cut short any celebrations.

Just before the break Omari Sterling-James tested visiting keeper Aljaz Cotman with a 20-yard volley but the match remained goalless at the break.

After half time McAlinden fired wide of the far post after cutting into the area from the left before Alvechurch keeper Liam Maher made a terrific diving save to keep out a header from Jamie Tank.

Alvechurch took the lead in the 57th minute when Luckie's low shot from outside the box flew past Cotman and, crucially, the hosts were able to hold on to their advantage as Maher saved well from Cranston and Jack Price before Jamie Reckord struck a thunderous effort from fully 30 yards that was inches too high.

After absorbing heavy pressure Alvechurch broke away to confirm their passage into the last eight with a second goal as Ryan Edmunds ran on to a through pass and beat Cotman two minutes from time.

Tenth placed Alvechurch, who visit Causeway United tomorrow before entertaining local rivals Studley on Boxing Day (3pm), earned a gritty 1-0 home win over Coventry Sphinx in the Midland Alliance on Saturday.

The match was goalless at the break despite Alvechurch going close on several occasions through Sterling-James and Maher denying Sphinx's Fotheringham as he bore down on goal in a one-on-one situation.

In the second half Luckie proved a constant menace to the Sphinx rearguard, but it was the visitors who came closest to scoring before the hour mark only for Liam Spink's superbly timed tackle to thwart White's dangerous run.

The winner arrived in the 79th minute when Edmunds swung a clever free kick to the far post and the ball was powerfully headed home by Sterling-James from close range.

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