Alvechurch 2 (Sweeney 10' & 39')
Bromsgrove Sporting 1 (Shaw 69')

Alvechurch made it five home league wins a row on Tuesday evening, as they beat local rivals Bromsgrove Sporting at Lye Meadow.

A first half brace from former Rousler Dan Sweeney gave Sporting the proverbial mountain to climb; a goal from Billy Shaw with a little over 20 minutes left gave Sporting a lifeline and, whilst they dominated the closing moments of the match, they were unable to find the all-important equaliser.

A sluggish start from the visitors saw both Sweeney and another ex-Sporting player, Joe Willis, have opportunities to open the scoring. Neither were successful with those, but the former would soon find himself on the scoresheet, as he knocked the ball in from close range amidst a sea of bodies in the 10th minute.

Sweeney almost doubled his tally 17 minutes later, but his brilliant effort from range was adjudged to be offside.

Bromsgrove's Theo Robinson found the side netting after being superbly set up by Carter Lycett in the 37th minute - 60 seconds later, it was 2-0, as Sweeney exquisitely lobbed a stranded Charlie Price.

Inside the final few moments of the opening 45, Reece Styche and Ash Carter both had headers smartly saved by Alvechurch stopper Ronnie Hollingshead, whilst Price had to be alert to make an impressive stop from a Bradley Stretton strike.

Price palmed away a Stretton free kick five minutes into the second half and Shaw struck wide for Bromsgrove six minutes later.

Sporting's Jamie Meddows saw a free kick whistle narrowly over the bar just after the hour mark. In the 69th minute, Scott Adey-Linforth's men pulled a goal back, as Meddows played in Shaw, who confidently found the bottom corner from inside the area.

The final stages of the encounter were dominated by Bromsgrove; substitute Ryan Snape blazed over from distance and a simply golden opportunity fell the way of Lycett in the second minute of added time - the ball fell kindly to him in the area and, from a one-on-one position, could only hit the post with his favoured left foot.

For Alvechurch boss Tim Flowers, this was his fourth victory this season against former employers Bromsgrove - three with Alvechurch and one with Redditch United.

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Entertainment Rating: 3/5
Reporter's Player of the Match: Dan Sweeney (Alvechurch)

Attendance: 356
Sporting Man of the Match, as chosen by the club's maintenance officer, Dave Sheppard: Ash Carter

Report: Max Banner