KOBE Chong’s injury time penalty rescued a point for Alvechurch in a thrilling 4-4 draw against local rivals Redditch United as Ian Long’s side twice surrendered a two-goal lead at Lye Meadow.
Josh Dugmore opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Dylan Allen-Hadley finished into the bottom corner from Jack Hallahan’s pass to double Church’s lead inside the first 15 minutes.
However, former Alvechurch man Brad Burton reduced the deficit just past the half-hour mark with a deflected effort before Dugmore’s sensational volley restored the home side’s two-goal lead before the break.
Burton scored his second of the game after the interval following a fine run and finish before Reece Flanagan’s penalty on 80 minutes drew the visitors level.
And Redditch completed a memorable comeback in the final minute when Liam Armstrong lobbed Church goalkeeper Dale Eve from just inside the Church half after the keeper scuffed a clearance straight to the goalscorer.
However, there was still time for one final twist when Allen-Hadley went down in the box and Chong stepped up to power home the resulting penalty into the bottom left corner.
That came after Church lost 2-0 away at Needham Market as Jake Dye and Tevan Allen struck either side of half time at Bloomfields.
Alvechurch host Basford United on Saturday, September 2 in the FA Cup with kick-off at 3pm at Lye Meadow.
