ALVECHURCH maintained their push for top spot after two substitutes came up with late goals on Saturday.
Tim Flowers’ side beat Kettering Town to keep the pressure on leaders Harborough Town.
Subs Tope Obadeyi and Thomas Conteh netted to give Alvechurch the points.
Obadeyi struck from the penalty spot with a minute of normal time left – and Conteh added a second six minutes into stoppage time.
Asked if his side deserved the victory, Flowers told the club’s official YouTube channel: “We probably just about shaded it.
“Kettering had a few surprises and they’ll be up there at the end of the season.”
Alvechurch will host Quorn on Tuesday and Flowers knows his side need to be consistent before talking about being promotion contenders.
He added: “I’m feeling good – but it’s all very well feeling good in October, if you can feel good after Christmas, that’s even better.
“We’re on 20 points now, and I want us to get to 50 for mathematical safety, which is what I’m looking at, and then take it from there.”
Flowers gave a debut to Frank Tattum, who joined on loan from Birmingham City last week.
The Alvechurch boss said: “He’s a number nine and thank Birmingham City for letting him come here. His stats there, he scores goals and I’m sure we’ll see that over the next few weeks.”
Stratford collected a key win over AFC Sudbury. A first half goal from Owen James was enough to secure the points ahead of Tuesday’s home game with Worcester City.
Returning Bards attacker Jack Storer told the club’s official YouTube channel: “I should’ve scored a couple of goals.
“But we deserved the three points. I think this was my eighth debut for the Bards! It’s good to be back.”
Halesowen Town looked to be on course for an away win at Royston Town thanks to Jason Cowley’s 35th minute goal.
But The Yeltz were frustrated as Josh Boorn produced an 89th-minute equaliser.
Boss Russ Penn told Radio Halesowen’s X account: “I was angry as we only had ourselves to blame.
“We chucked it away. It was a terrible second half and we didn’t control the game as we should’ve done.
“If we come to places like this and to keep giving the ball away all the time, they’re going to get a chance, aren’t they?
“We’ve got to manage these situations if we want to do something this season.”
Halesowen now host Redditch United in a derby clash at The Grove on Tuesday.
Penn added: “We’ll be okay by then, but I’d have been dwelling on this until Monday.”
Bromsgrove Sporting missed out on three crucial points as Bury Town scored a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw.
Billy Shaw put Rouslers ahead after 34 minutes only for Harley Curtis to level soon after. Charlie Pavey restored the lead a minute after the break – but Cemal Ramadan added a second for the Suffolk side with seven minutes to go.
Bromsgrove now play host to Stamford on Tuesday night.
Stourbridge also had to settle for a point from their home clash with Leiston on Saturday.
Tyrone Barnett put The Glassboys ahead after 27 minutes but Adam Mills levelled just before the break.
Barnett told the club’s official YouTube channel: “We’ve not had many good results recently, so a point’s well earned and we could’ve nicked a win.
“It’s been a few games since I’ve scored and I want as many as I can.
“We’ve all had a word about conceding late goals, and we didn’t want to do that again – we were pushing for a winner.”
Redditch United slipped to a 3-2 defeat at promotion-chasing Bishop’s Stortford after the Hertfordshire side scored a late winner.
Matt Warburton put Redditch ahead after only seven minutes – but two goals in as many minutes from Sott Kashket and Nahum Melvin-Lambert put Stortford ahead after the break.
Redditch replied almost immediately through Alex Cameron. But Mark Haines struck with eight minutes left as the home side took the points.
But Redditch boss Mike Fowler took the positives and told the club’s official YouTube channel: “I was disappointed that we didn’t get something out of the game, we were good value for all three points, never mind one.
“We played some of the best football we have all season.
“They were the softest side we’ve come up against this year, in terms of diving and calling. In front of their home fans, it was a bit embarrassing and happened at least 10 times.”
