EvoStik Northern Premier League South
at the Bradley Community Sports Ground
Cleethorpes Town (0) 1
Curtis Bateson 86
Alvechurch FC (0) 0
Admission £7. Prograame £1.50. Attendance 203
Though to be fair to 'Clee', this was more a case of the home side thoroughly deserving their win, rather than 'Church' dropping points due to a lack of application on their own part.
In actual fact although the Owls only won by a single goal, scored in the eighty sixth minute, when Curtis Bateson's low shot was deflected into the roof of the net over Paul Evans head off of an Alvechurch defender who'd gone to ground moments before, during the goalmouth action preceding Marcus Newell's side taking the lead.
Perhaps he was having trouble with his watch again... it was the same guy who blew up for half time after just forty three minutes at the Spalding United v Frickley Athletic game covered by this here: long winded, self indulgent, bullshit blog, with added football content, a few weeks ago.
Alvechurch had their moments, but for the most part 'Clee' were in the ascendancy.
Kieram Wressell bought the ball forward out of defence and spotted Danny North making a run in the distance, but Jamie Ashmore had read Wressell's intentions well and moved across to intercept the long delivery, that was only a fraction away from putting North through on Evans goal.
Dave Bellis tried releasing Yusifu Ceesay, but the well drilled Owls defence stepped forward in unison and the big Alvechurch number ten's run was stopped by a linesman's flag. Moments later, the same two 'Church' players combined again, and Ceesay found himself going one against one with the advancing 'Clee' keeper David Birch, but he rushed his shot which flew several yards wide of he target.
Alvechurch ventured up the pitch won a couple of corners towards the end of the first half, but never really troubled the resilient Owls, while 'Clee' continued to chip away around the perimeter of the visitors final third.
HT: Owls 0 v Church 0
At the outset of the second half, Brody Richardson battled through to the deal ball line to the right of Alvechurch's goal but his low cross/shot was held by Evans, at the foot of his left hand post, at the second attempt.
Zack Forster tried to feed the ball through to Ben Tilbury inside the home side's area, but Birch was alert to the danger and rushed out to smother the ball.
Bateson tested Alvechurch again from Flett's measured knock, but Andy Parsons blocked his shot.
The ball was pinging around the 'Church' area in a frantic manner, and amidst a scrummage where both teams appealed for fouls, Bateson made himself a yard of space, but blazed his shot over.
But he made amends with just four minutes remaining, when the ball was only half cleared into his path and he found the net vis a deflection. Was it actually Bateson's goal? Well, nobody from Alvechurch wanted it, so of course it was!
Luke Aldrich had the ball taken off of his shooting foot by Evans, who saved bravely as the 'Clee' substitute squared up to have a pop from ten yards out,while Flett almost bagged the goal that his non stop, all action performance warranted, but he drilled the ball over the bar... and as Evans took the resulting goal kick, Kevin Saundby, the match referee, finally remembered which pocket he had put his whistle in and blew for time.
FT: Cleethorpes Town 1 v Alvechurch 0
A deserved win for the Owls, against second placed Alvechurch. The West Midlands club still have a six point cushion over Frickley in third (who have themselves already qualified for at least a play off spot), but won't want to come up against any more opposition sides showing the same level of commitment and determination that Cleethorpes did tonight.
