ALVECHURCH saw their three-game unbeaten run come to an end after Ian Long’s side were beaten 1-0 at Royston Town.
Church were undone by Matthew Bateman’s 33rd minute goal at Garden Walk as the visitors were unable to turn their second-half dominance into an equaliser.
The result means Alvechurch sit 16th in the Southern League Premier Central table, five points above the relegation zone with at least one game in hand on the teams around them.
A drab first half burst into life on 33 minutes when Bateman poked the ball home from close range after Church failed to clear their lines at a corner.
Church saw a good shout for a penalty turned down when Remi Walker appeared to be pulled back after Dimitrios Kyriatzis spilled Danny Waldron’s shot.
The visitors saw a number of efforts blocked in the second period before Tom Edge’s deflected shot went narrowly over the bar from 20-yards out.
Church’s Jack Concannon forced Kyriatzis into a fine save from point blank range before Edge’s follow up went wide and Waldron headed down and off target as the visitors spurned several good chances to equalise.
And with time running out, Waldron’s shot came back off the post before Nick Clayton-Phillips sent the rebound over the crossbar.
Alvechurch are next in action at home to Aston Villa TONIGHT (Tuesday, March 14) in the quarter-finals of the Birmingham Senior Cup with kick-off at 7.45pm at Lye Meadow.
