ALVECHURCH slipped 11 points behind Midland League Premier Division front-runners Westfields after being held to a 1-1 draw at Stourport Swifts on Tuesday.
Whilst the Herefordshire side snatched a dramatic late 4-3 victory at Walsall Wood, Ian Long’s Church side were left frustrated at Walshes Meadow as Paul Hurrell netted a 93rd-minute equaliser from Joe Phillips’ free kick.
It was a fourth draw in nine league matches this season for Alvechurch, who had taken a 40th-minute lead when Josh March capitalised on a defensive mishap, and leaves them with much work to do if they are to mount a title challenge.
The equaliser was no more than Swifts deserved, especially having been reduced to ten men in the 86th minute when Sam Beasley received his second booking.
The task does not get any easier for Long’s men as face a tough fixture at fellow promotion hopefuls Walsall Wood on Saturday. Tuesday then brings the visit of Shawbury United to Lye Meadow.
Long’s side were victorious on Saturday as they defeated AFC Wulfrunians 3-1 thanks to a dominant display at Lye Meadow.
A fifth-minute headed own goal from Marvin Robinson put the hosts ahead and it was 2-0 a minute before the break when Jamie Spencer powerfully headed home Michael McGrath’s corner.
The goal of the game arrived on 83 minutes when Andy Nicol made the most of his starting opportunity with an acrobatic overhead volley from Ryan Winwood’s right-wing cross, before Ryan Nesbitt reduced Wulfs’ arrears in stoppage time.
FECKENHAM exited the Smedley Crooke Memorial Charity Cup as they were beaten 6-3 at Chelmsley Town on Tuesday.
Jack Brimmell bagged a brace and Daniel Williams also struck for the Millers, who experienced better fortunes on Saturday when they defeated visitors Sutton United 5-0 in the Les James Challenge Cup.
Millers boss Aaron Blackwood handed a debut to 21-year-old keeper Josh Goddard but the action was all at the other end as the hosts dominated.
Umit Eminoglu released George Tolley to open the scoring with a superb low drive and it was 2-0 when Ben Cox and Brimmell combined to set up Tolley to curl home.
The goal of the game arrived just before the break when a fine move ended with Brimmell pulling the ball back for Cox to hammer home on the volley.
In the second half, Williams scored in a one-on-one before 18-year-old Tolley completed his second hat-trick of the season when he forced the Sutton keeper into a mistake before converting into an empty net.
ALCESTER Town returned to winning ways in Division Three with a 3-0 victory at AFC Solihull on Saturday.
The visitors were dominant throughout and led 2-0 at half time after Daniel Mumford found Joe Shaw in space to fire home the opener before Leon Blundell doubled the lead when he latched on to a ball over the top before coolly firing home.
Keeper Jack Turner produced a couple of smart saves to keep Alcester’s clean sheet intact in the second half before Matt Layton completed the scoring with a free kick.
Town boss Danny Janes said: “I thought we were excellent in the first half in relation to ball retention, shape and attacking variation. We took our chances and dominated the game.
“In the second half we seemed to stop playing slightly, but we were excellent in defence and did not let Solihull back into the game.”
Town host Moors Academy on Saturday.
Alcester Town Reserves defeated Studley United 2-1 to win the Stratford Football Alliance Hospital Cup at Stratford Town FC on Tuesday.
Matt Layton and Callum Law grabbed the goals for Alcester, who are managed by Richard Layton and Paul Dipple.
