Alvechurch 1-1 The Mikes

A floodlight “failure” ten minutes before kick-off delayed the start of the game. Both sides made several changes from their games at the weekend but irrespective of the changes the game was played at a fast pace helped by the recent rain on a pitch that had held up well despite the inclement weather.

The Mikes suffered an early blow when skipper Joe Daley had to leave the field on seven minutes with further shoulder problems despite his mid-summer surgery to clear the problem. Tazivaishe Chibaya came on at right back with Lewis Allison replacing Daley in midfield. Clear chances were at a premium but Boldmere took the lead after 25 minutes. A poor backward header 30 yards out from Germaine Agustien saw the ball drop well short of Charlie Emery, and Ryan Boothe capitalised to pounce on the loose ball and lift over Emery with ease from just outside the box. Alvechurch had a good shout for a penalty ten minutes later when Michael Taylor robbed possession from Kai Knight, and bore down on goal only to clash with Callum Smith in attempting to feed the ball across the face of goal. Referee Ashley Clarke saw it differently and booked the striker for simulation.

As one might expect from the higher graded side the second half saw more threat from the home side whilst the Mikes defended doggedly repelling both free kicks and corners that were conceded at regular intervals. Owen Parry for the Mikes and Nick Clayton-Phillips for the Church were introduced shortly after the hour mark the latter perhaps having more impact on the game as the closing stages approached. Alvechurch managed an equaliser with a quarter hour remaining, a good run across the box by Theo Rowe, who fed Ammar Dyer, the latter’s shot is palmed back into the heart of the area by keeper Smith and Clayton-Phillips was in the right place at the right time to steer this rebound into the unguarded net to level the scores. Alvechurch pressed in the later stages but could not penetrate the Mikes determined defence and the game moved into a penalty shoot out just like the match at Church Road the previous season in the same competition.

The first penalty proves to be the most decisive in terms of the outcome of the tie, as it is the only the only one not converted. Agustien puts his penalty over the bar, and although Boldmere’s first from Parry strikes the bar, it is on the underside, and it gives the visitors a lead that they do not relinquish. Hallahan, Dyer, Taylor and Dugmore all convert for Church, but so do Gittings, Brown, Craven and Boothe for Boldmere, and after the statutory five each for both sides, Boldmere hold a conclusive 5-4 lead and claim their place in Round Three. Revenge for last season’s defeat by a similar penalty shoot out score following a 2-2 draw.

Alvechurch: Charlie Emery, Joshua Dugmore, Ammar Dyer, Jack Hallahan, Yaw Ofosu, Abel Alabi, Ross Evans (Nick Clayton-Phillips 61), Germaine Agustien, Michael Taylor, Blake Kindred (Daniele Reka 64), Theo Rowe (Richard Batchelor 88).
Subs not used: Mackenzie Lamb, Georgie Manning

Boldmere St Michaels: Callum Smith, Lewis Allison, Kai Knight, Ricardo Dudley, Harry Craven, Joe Daley (Tazivaishe Chibaya 7), Johnny Johnston, Callum Gittings, Andre Brown, Ryan Boothe, Harry Sweeney (Owen Parry 63).
Subs not used: Ben Usher-Shipway, Joe Hull, Jack Byrne