ALVECHURCH were dealt another blow in their bid for promotion after they were beaten 2-0 at home by relegation threatened Nuneaton Borough.
The hosts struggled to break down a stubborn Nuneaton defence at Lye Meadow as goals from Borough skipper Scott McManus and Anthony Dwyer extended Church’s winless run to three matches.
And the defeat means Alvechurch remain fifth in the Southern League Premier Central table, sitting inside the play-off places on goal difference having played two games more than the team below them.
The home side almost made the perfect start only for Ryan Nesbitt’s effort from close range to be kept out by Nuneaton goalkeeper Tony Breeden.
And Alvechurch had another chance soon after when Dave Bellis saw his effort from the edge of the penalty area pushed away to safety.
However, Nuneaton took the lead with their first attack of the game on seven minutes when a corner from the right was turned in at the near post by McManus.
Alvechurch responded with a chance from a corner of their own when the ball was played short into Nesbitt who fired wide through a crowd of bodies.
Despite the home side’s dominance, Nuneaton had a chance to double their lead when Charlie Dowd’s shot was saved low down to his left by Alvechurch keeper Dan Jezeph from Luke Benbow’s flick on.
Shortly after, Josh Mansell fired into the side netting from a tight angle after neatly working his way into the Nuneaton penalty area down the right.
The Church then conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of their own penalty area which was sent well over the crossbar by Benbow.
And Nuneaton spurned another chance to extend their lead early in the second period when Benbow’s goalbound shot was magnificently blocked by Ash Carter.
Alvechurch were on the book foot again when Gregory Kaziboni’s long ball created panic in the home defence before Benbow scuffed an effort inches wide of the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
The chances continued to come the way of the visitors when Anthony Dwyer fired a few yards yard on the half-volley.
However, Ian Long’s side finally managed to create an opening when Zak Brown’s volley thundered over the bar after he connected with a poor Nuneaton clearance.
Nuneaton eventually doubled their lead on 80 minutes when Dwyer headed home at the back post from Kaziboni’s cross to seal the points.
The home side almost halved the deficit in injury-time when substitute Danny Waldron saw a curling effort pushed behind for a corner by Breeden.
And Breeden made a sensational save moments later to deny Nick Clayton-Phillips a certain goal, pushing the forward’s effort over the bar from 10-yards out.
Alvechurch are next in action away at Tamworth on Saturday, February 12 with kick-off at 3pm at the Lamb Ground.
