ALVECHURCH reached the FA Cup First Round Proper for the first time in 49 years after Leo Brown, Jed Abbey and Tom Edge’s goals secured a memorable 3-2 win against Worksop Town.
Brown and Abbey struck in the first half before Edge’s screamer extended Church’s lead as Ian Long’s side held on despite conceding two late goals to record a famous victory at Lye Meadow in front of a bumper crowd.
The draw for the First Round Proper takes place on Monday (October 17) at approximately 7.15pm and will be broadcast live on BBC Two with Alvechurch ball number 59.
The home side started brightly and almost took the lead when Jed Abbey’s shot was pushed away by Worksop goalkeeper Sebastian Malkowski with Danny Waldron unable to scramble the ball home.
And Church took the lead on five minutes when Abbey’s cross from the left was controlled by the unmarked Leo Brown who coolly found the corner to send the home fans into delirium.
Worksop dominated the ball thereafter without causing Church too many problems before Abbey curled a free-kick over the crossbar from 25-yards out.
The home side went close to a second when Waldron dribbled past several players before drilling an effort inches wide of the near post.
And the chances continued to come Church’s way when Brad Burton burst down the right before cutting the ball back to Brown who saw his shot saved by the feet of Malkowski.
Alvechurch looked to test the Worksop keeper again later in the half as Ash Carter’s powerful effort from distance went just wide of the right-hand post.
And Church should have doubled their lead when Jack Concannon slipped Waldron in down the right channel as the striker cut inside of the defender before being denied by Malkowski.
The home side did not have to wait long for their second goal to arrive as Abbey beautifully controlled Waldron’s pass before clinically finding the bottom left corner with virtually the last kick of the first half.
And Church were in dreamland on 48 minutes as Edge placed a stunning effort into the top left corner from distance to all but seal their place in the next round.
Home goalkeeper Dan Jezeph was finally called into action just past the hour mark as he made a routine save from substitute Luke Hall’s effort.
Worksop remained a threat as Jay Rollins diverted the ball wide at the back post before Jezeph made a fine save and Carter bravely threw himself in the way of another powerful attempt.
Church almost extended their lead when Abbey played Brown through on goal only for the striker to be kept out by the onrushing Malkowski.
At the other end, Paul Green curled a free-kick over the bar from 20-yards out before Abbey had a shot saved and Waldron’s mazy run ended with the forward blasting an effort inches wide.
Worksop created their best chance of the match in the closing stages as substitute Vaughan Redford dragged a shot narrowly wide of Jezeph’s near post.
And Jezeph made a sensational save to preserve Church’s clean sheet as he acrobatically denied Rollins from point blank range.
However, from the resulting corner Redford forced the ball home to set up a nervy final five minutes which led to some unsavoury scenes in the goalmouth as Worksop tried to recover the ball quickly.
And Worksop threatened an extraordinary comeback when Liam Hughes produced a confident finish on 89 minutes from Jack Broadhead’s flick on.
Church survived a Worksop onslaught in injury time as young supporters invaded the pitch at full time to celebrate one of the greatest day’s in the club’s recent history.
Alvechurch will join 48 clubs from EFL League One and EFL League Two along with 31 other non-league clubs in the draw with First Round Proper ties to take place on the weekend of Saturday, November 5 and Sunday, November 6.
Winning clubs will pick up £41,000 should they advance to the Second Round Proper.
