ALVECHURCH boss Tim Flowers praised the ‘threat’ of two-goal matchwinner Dan Sweeney after another derby day success.
A 2-1 win over Bromsgrove Sporting made it five home victories in a row.
Sweeney put Church 2-0 up before the break – but Sporting improved in the second half.
However, Scott Adey-Linforth’s side left it late to score, Billy Shaw setting up a grandstand finish.
And the Rouslers almost grabbed a dramatic point in stoppage time as Carter Lycett hit the post when he looked certain to score.
But Flowers took the win and says his side’s first half display proved enough.
The Church boss told the club’s official YouTube channel: “It was a terrific first half performance. I thought we were on the front foot from the get go.
𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐓! 😍
Redditch 0-1 Alvechurch. ✅
Alvechurch 1-0 Redditch. ✅
Bromsgrove 0-2 Alvechurch. ✅
Bromsgrove 0-1 Alvechurch. ✅
Alvechurch 2-1 Bromsgrove. ✅We sure do love a derby against our local neighbours. 😎 pic.twitter.com/xJE5ZyazH7
— Alvechurch FC (@Alvechurch1st) March 11, 2025
“We played with intensity and high tempo and the honey on top of your toast was obviously Sweens, getting a couple of goals. He had one chalked off, which was an absolute stunner.
“It’ll be interesting to see if he was offside. But the other two finishes were crisp, good finishes, clever lob. The second one was a good lob. And he was a real threat. He was a menace.
“The second half was a different story. Bromsgrove pushed us back. We weren’t in control of the game. But in the first half, I thought we were in complete control. I wasn’t comfortable at all on the sidelines.
“You know that the next goal is key in that 2-0 score line. And you know, if you if we got it, that’s game over. If they get it, then it’s game on. And obviously they got it – it was a poor goal from our point of view, and then we were hanging on a little bit at the end, they hit the post. I just thought when it dropped, I thought: ‘There’s a goal’.
“It looked like a free shot from inside the six yard. Anyway, it’s a post, and we scrambled it away. We never looked massively comfortable in the second half, but rarely can you sustain that kind of pressure.
HALF-TIME | A Sweeney double has us ahead at the break.
🟡 2-0 🟢 pic.twitter.com/2oUhHWr4kG
— Alvechurch FC (@Alvechurch1st) March 11, 2025
“In the end, it’s a fantastic win, and it’s two home wins in four days, and back-to-back local derbies.”
But Adey-Linforth says his side left themselves with too much to do after a poor first half display.
He told the Rouslers’ official YouTube channel: “I think the first half was probably the worst I think we’ve had since I’ve been here. I thought we were miles off the pace.
“We kind of shot ourselves in the foot. Credit to them. I thought they were brilliant in the first half, everything we weren’t and we came in rightly so, two down.
“In the second half, I asked for a reaction and we got it. I thought we were good. I wouldn’t say we were excellent, but we were certainly better, and we feel like we maybe could have more than a bit more than what we had.
“There was a great chance at the end. He’ll have nightmares aout that, but we missed two in the first half as well.”
Bromsgrove were dealt a blow when winger Fin Holmes was recalled by Solihull Moors following an impressive stint with the Rouslers since joining them in October.
During his time with Bromsgrove, Holmes has picked up multiple Player of the Match awards and scored five goals in 17 appearances.
Adey-Linforth added: “Fin’s been outstanding for us since I’ve been heee. He’s been brilliant. But you know what? It’s an unbelievable opportunity, and I’m so pleased for him. He deserves a chance and I wish him all the best.”
