Midland Football League

Premier Division

Saturday 26th November 2016

Alvechurch FC 4-0 Tividale FC

Tividale get no sanctuary at this church

Tividale came up against the leaders and title favourites and despite a battling performance that will give them confidence in games to come. They had no answer to the clinical finishing of the home side.

With an unchanged starting line up that were unfortunate to lose in their last game it was a decent start from the visitors and they caused the homes side a few problems in the opening 15 minutes. But Alvechurch settled themselves down with the opening goal when from a Tom Turton corner that was initially cleared back to him, he whipped the ball back in and the lethal Josh Marsh was once again Johnny on the spot and he stooped to head past keeper Luke Kriskinans. The goal although avoidable did not deter the visitors and they stuck to the task of trying to close down their opposite numbers at every opportunity and deny them space behind them.

If Tividale did have a fault in the first half it was that they kept giving the ball away much to easily. Either with short passes that was not finding their man or speculative long balls trying to find Dan Smith that was meat and drink for Alvechurch centre backs Andy Parsons and Jamie Willets.

Alvechurch doubled their lead on 35 minutes when after a couple of breaks that fell for them. The first after a shot was well blocked by Joe Woodall and then from the follow up a brilliant parry from Kriskinans. The ball fell nicely to right back Jamie Ashmore on the edge of the 6 yard box and he made no mistake smashing the ball into the roof of the net.

Again Tividale battled on and were causing the home side problems but right on the stroke of half time Alvechurch ended the game as a contest with the goal of the game. From a deep left wing cross, Connor Deards did well to keep the ball in play hooking the ball back into the box. With the Tividale defence unable to deal with the second cross Daniel Dubidat took charge with an overhead kick that found the back of the net.

Half Time :-Alvechurch FC 3-0 Tividale FC

With a three goal deficit against a side that has not conceded a goal in their last five league games. Tividale manager Dave King made a couple of substitutions and positional changes at half time in an effort to get themselves back into the game and it almost brought instant success.  With Alvechurch keeper Paul Evans having to tip over the bar a Liam Smith shot in the first minute of the half. The effort definitely gave the away side a lift and their all round play and tempo was an improvement on the first half. Possession wise Tividale were now giving as good as they got but in that final third they were lacking and apart from the earlier save, Evans was never really troubled. Tividale did feel that they had a penalty claim on the hour when Evans dived at the feet of Smith. The visitors felt that Evans took the man before the ball but the referee waived play on.

At the other end when Alvechurch had possession they were much more threatening in front of goal and Dubidat could have had an hat trick on another day. But Kriskinans and his defence stood firm until with 20 minutes to go when the home side took advantage of a failed Tividale attack. Deards broke away on the counter and his cross was met on the penalty spot by Alvechurch skipper Dave Bellis and he guided his header over Kriskinans and in off the underside of the bar.

Alvechurch thought they had made it five in the dying seconds when the impressive Deards stabbed the ball home from a Ryan Edmunds cross but it was ruled out for off side and that brought an end to the game.

Full Time :- Alvechurch FC 4-0 Tividale FC

Tividale FC:-1.Luke Kriskinans, 2. Tom Hurdman (16. Jacob Wedderburn 46), 3. Lewis Probert, 4. Karl Gardner, 5. Joe Woodall, 6. Craig Stevens, 7. Lewis McPike (12. Charles Wilson 82), 8. Liam Smith, 9. Dan Smith, 10. Darragh Bustin, 11. Nathan Jones (15. Jamie Hunt 46).

Unused Subs:-14. Shane Grainger 17. Jordan Potter.