ALVECHURCH crashed out of the FA Cup at the second round qualifying stage following a heavy 5-2 defeat away at divisional rivals Halesowen Town.
Late goals from Jack Concannon and Ross Evans added some respectability to the scoreline for Church on an afternoon to forget at The Grove.
That came after Halesowen’s McKauley Manning scored a hat-trick with Reece Mitchell and Miracle Okofor also on target for the home side.
Church sacked manager Ian Long following the defeat having memorably reached the second round proper last season.
Manning opened the scoring on a nine minutes with an excellent first time finish into the bottom right corner from 25-yards out.
And Manning doubled Halesowen’s lead on 37 minutes with a finish on the stretch past onrushing Church goalkeeper Dale Eve.
The home side all but sealed the win five minutes into the second half as Mitchell curled a shot beyond Eve from just outside the penalty area.
And Manning completed his hat-trick on 64 minutes with another impressive finish into the bottom left corner from the right-hand side of the penalty area.
Halesowen scored their fifth goal just two minutes later as Okofor cut inside of his man and drilled a low effort into the net.
Church scored a consolation goal on 78 minutes courtesy of Concannon who curled a fine effort into the right corner from the edge of the penalty area.
And the visitors struck again in injury time when the ball broke kindly to Evans who fired a low shot through Yeltz goalkeeper Dan Platt from close range.
Alvechurch are next in action away at Berkhamsted on Saturday, September 23 with kick-off at 3pm at Lower Kings Road.
