Alvechurch 3 Rocester 0
Midland League Premier Division
FOR 70 minutes the Alvechurch title party was on hold, but then Danny Dubidat had the net bulging and left the champagne ready to be uncorked.
Two goals from the powerhouse centre forward and a cracking 31st goal of the season from top scorer Josh March ended a memorable season with an ultimately convincing victory at Lye Meadow.
The Midland League Premier Division trophy was handed out to the champions after Saturday’s final match of the season, with Dave Bellis and Mark Smith hoisting the silverware aloft in front of joyous players, staff, fans and family.
It was a fitting reward for a season in which determination, spirit and quality have gone hand in hand and the clash with Rocester summed up the champions’ campaign.
As boss Ian Long has said, the Churchmen have stuttered across the line and the Romans were certainly more than a match for the hosts in the first half.
Sebastian Szondi wasted the best chance of the opening 45 minutes, scooping over Oliver Roome’s cross after being left completely unmarked, and keeper Ryan Price made a smart save from Ashleigh Lynch.
Alvechurch created their opportunities too, Reece Shilvock heading over from Dubidat’s cross and March, after a Gazza-esque flick, fired wide from Dubidat’s flick before the duo combined again but Dubidat’s header flashed wide.
The Churchmen eased through the gears after the break but still had to wait until 69 minutes to break the resistance of Romans keeper Richard Froggatt in his final game for the club.
Jamie Ashmore, who was an increasing threat down the right, made ground down the flank but there seemed little threat until Dubidat rifled home from the edge of the area.
Four minutes later, Dubidat pounced again with another instinctive finish, sweeping home via the underside of the bar following Babucar Sauane’s pass.
Sauane might have had a third but could not beat Froggatt, before Sauane, pushed into midfield after starting at wing back, found March who swivelled to slam the ball into the far corner to make it 3-0 with ten minutes left.
Report by Colin Stoner.
