Highgate came to Lye Meadow looking for a first win of the season.
'Church were looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat at Tipton on Saturday, after a very creditable win against Westfields last week.

And it was the visitors who got what they were looking for - deservedly claiming all three points in this tussle primarily because the home side probably didn't deserve to do so.

Alvechurch: Taylor, Lismore, Judd, Smith.S, Humphries, Glaze, Smith.L (Cameron 69), Poulson, Wright, Nicol (Janes 27), Lund
unused sub: none

Highgate : Edwards, Casey (Fraher 51), Dineen, Reynolds, Checketts, Timmins, Corrigan, King, Pitt (Bradbury 72), Brown (Ellis 24), Povey
unused subs: Faulkner

There was nothing to choose between the two sides in the opening stages, although 'Church had the clearer chances. On the quarter hour, Joe Wright and Andy Nicol both had half chances blocked , and on 19 minutes a Wright effort was blocked, and as the ball fell to Nicol his on target effort was palmed away by Edwards in the Highgate goal.

But Highgate took the lead with a goal from nowhere. A 24th minute free kick was swung into the box by Corrigan, and Dan Povey connected with a deft header, unchallenged, to plant the ball comfortably past Taylor.

Ben Lund should have equalised on 36 when he capitalised on indecision in the Highgate defence, but through on goal he was well foiled by Edwards who stood up well to beat away Lund's shot. From the nsuing corner Wright headed on to David Glaze who volleyed well over from the edge of the box.

The second half was dominated by the elements as the rain came down and the wind played a leading role.

A 'Church equaliser on 70 came somewhat out of the blue as substitute Daley Cameron dispatched a shot from 25 yards low to Edwards' left into the bottom corner of the goal. It was Cameron's first touch of the ball after coming on for Lewis Smith a minute earlier, and it should have seen the kick on the victory over a hard working but average opponent.

But this was not to be the Westfields storyline over again, and a 75th minute corner rattled around the 'Church box before Sean Ellis rifled the ball in from the edge of the box, courtesy of a deflection that gave Taylor little chance of reacting.

The home side huffed and puffed in pursuit of a second equaliser, and Scott Smith came close in stoppage time when the ball was nicked off his toe just a few yards out from an open goal, but Highgate hung on for a win that they clearly wanted.