AFC Telford United beaten at Alvechurch

After the first half hour, Telford’s dominance slowed as Matthew Stenson fired home a penalty earned by Ellis Brown, however Church did not roll over and fought back to take control of the game.

The Bucks have missed another chance to go top of the Southern League Premier Division Central after Halesowen Town lost 2-0 to Stratford Town, Kettering Town lost 2-1 to Bromsgrove Sporting and midweek opponents Bedford Town drew 2-2 with Banbury United.

The visitors grew into the game after a slow opening five minutes saw Alvechurch dominate possession, however Stenson and Brogan put their stamp on the game, winning second balls and progressing into their opponents’ half.

A scrappy opening turned into a scrappy first half as the mud bogged down the pace of the game, but long balls from the Telford defence were chased up by Jakub Kruszynski, Stenson and Brown.

United showed why they are competing at the top of the table as they pushed to break the 0-0 deadlock, adapting to the conditions to create some solid chances.

Stenson came closest before the Telford opener as he cut into the box and pulled the ball back into the box for James Armson, only for the shot to fire off the crossbar at the 15-minute mark.

Having driven up the left wing, Brown got the better of right-back Callum Sullivan, cutting inside and being cut down as he got his shot off. The ball hit the side-netting as a penalty was given.

Stenson stepped up and got his fifteenth goal of the season with a low, hard shot to the bottom right of the keeper, opening the scoring at 30 minutes, however instead of backing down, Church kicked on and fought for any chance to fire the ball into the box where their physical forwards were waiting.

The home side’s patience was rewarded as they equalised six minutes later. Joseph Willis’ shot deflected past Brandon Hall and bounced into the net.

It marked the end of the Bucks’ dominance over the game, as Alvechurch drew on the home crowd and the familiar conditions to fight back.

They bore down on the defence as 15 painful minutes of long throws and crosses culminated with Samuel Perry winning a penalty against the trailing foot of Jordan Cranston. Dylan Allen-Hadley took it well to put his side 2-1 ahead going into the break.

The second half opened as the first had ended, with the muddy pitch maintaining the game’s stop-start pace. Both sides struggled to play passing football, and they went long looking for chances.

Alvechurch’s scorer Hadley-Allen was first to break through in the second half as he cut inside in the box to find the net. Telford fell behind 3-1.

After their strong opening half hour to the game, Telford struggled to impose themselves later in the same way and the two-goal deficit remained, as Alvechurch managed the game to its close with limited but threatening attacks.

Despite the conditions, Telford did once break through and were able to link up on the left wing.  Brown found the net after linking up with Brogan and Stenson to open up the Alvechurch defence, however the chance was flagged offside and Telford struggled to recreate the move.

Hall was outstanding in goal as Hadley-Allen beat Ellis Myles-Tebbutt and cut inside in an eerie replica of their third goal.

Hall got to ground quickly however, pushing the chance wide before Church’s Shay Willock kept the ball in play. The keeper scrambled to make a double save which gave Telford a lifeline with 11 minutes to go.

Pendley shut down a threatening Hadley-Allen as the game neared its end with a crunching challenge to end the Alvechurch attack, shutting down the space he’d been afforded in the box.

A long free-kick from Cranston marked the start of added time, with Pendley heading the ball back across the face of goal, however the effort was wasted as Alvechurch’s defence proved impenetrable.

Telford struggled to create anything substantial as the added time faded away and they missed out on three points which could have put them top of the league.

The Bucks next face first-placed Bedford Town at home, a side whose draw with Banbury saw them go top and a point ahead of Telford.