SPL Premier Central
Alvechurch 2 (Waldron 66, Concannon 69)
Ilkeston Town 1 (Campbell 16)
Our ten-game unbeaten run was brought to an end on Saturday as hosts Alvechurch ran out 2-1 winners at Lye Meadow.
On a tricky pitch that only just survived a pre-match inspection, with covers having successfully protected it from the midweek rain, both teams created numerous chances throughout the game but ultimately it was ‘Church who would be more clinical.
The two goalkeepers were busy in the early stages, Alvechurch’s Jamie Soule and Ilkeston’s Olly Brown-Hill both seeing shots saved.
After Tom Edge had also seen Robins keeper Harrison Foulkes push away his effort, we then took the lead on 16 minutes, as Dec Eratt-Thompson’s corner from the left found Finn Delap whose effort crashed back off the crossbar, the ball falling to Remaye Campbell who was able to guide it into the net.
How the game then remained 1-0 until half-time was anyone’s guess, as first Soule was denied by Foulkes twice in 30 seconds in one-on-one situations, then Henri Wilder saw ‘Church keeper Dan Jezeph save well from point-blank range.
Leroy Lita then headed wide, Campbell’s drive was parried away by Jezeph, then Wilder went close again but his strike was cleared off the line.
There was still time before the break for Lita to shoot wide, then Kieran Fenton produced a superb last-ditch tackle to deny Soule as he was again through on goal.
The second-half saw fewer clear chances but Alvechurch took two of the ones they created.
After Soule saw a good chance go begging early on, they equalised on 66 minutes when a cross from the right from Jack Concannon was met by Danny Waldron’s diving header that left Foulkes with no chance.
Three minutes later the hosts led as Concannon was sent in on goal and his low finish completed the turnaround.
Brad Burton’s strike from range was well saved by Foulkes as Alvechurch sought a third goal, while we struggled to respond with too many threats at the other end and ultimately ran out of time.
Alvechurch: Jezeph, Cassidy, Burton, Teixeira, Dugmore, Carter, Abbey, Edge, Waldron (Skeel-Hamilton 73), Concannon (Walker 79), Soule (Soule 85)
Not used: Finnegan
Ilkeston: Foulkes, Eratt-Thompson, Wilder, Hilton (Woakes 72), Delap (Kozluk 86), Fenton, Campbell, Thomas, Lita, Brown-Hill, Bennett (Patterson 80)
Not used: Ward, Woodward
Att: 366
Ref: Thomas Staten