REPORT: ALVECHURCH 1-0 UNITED

Our Emirates FA Cup run came to an end after a 1-0 reverse away at Alvechurch on Saturday afternoon.

It took only six minutes for Dylan Allen-George to put Alvechurch ahead when he capitalised on a mistake to prod home the opener.

Shortly afterwards, the striker went down in the area, only to be cautioned for simulation, and United's first chance came with 18 minutes on the clock, when the dangerous Brodie Litchfield danced through four players and force home 'keeper Dale Eve into a smart save.

Jack Thomas then fired at Eve - amidst a positive away spell - before Kieran Preston was called upon to first deny Jack Concannon and the follow-up by Allen-George

Ethan Cartwright found himself in behind on the end of Matt Thornhill's cute pass, and may have scored had it not been for a fantastic block by Yaw Ofosu and Litchfield was again thwarted, this time on the line after Eve had flapped at a high cross from Matty Bowman.

Shortly before the break, a half-decent spell of pressure saw Cartwright fire into the top corner but all celebrations were cut short through the far side linesman's flag and United trailed at the interval.

Their pressure continued into the second period, despite Preston making a double save, first from Allen-George before Josh Dugmore's stinging hit.

Ten minutes after the restart, Dom Roma thought he had equalised when a header found the bottom corner, only to be harshly ruled out for the second time of the afternoon.

Eve then denied Remaye Campbell's top corner-bound strike with a magnificent save to frustrate United hearts further, before, for a third time, a seemingly legitimate goal, again from Roma in similar fashion, was chalked off ten minutes from time.

The kitchen sink, and more, was thrown forward and Pete Dearle's snap-header was parried over his crossbar by Eve, before the afternoon was summed up when Tom Angell's onrushing header thundered off the outside of the post and cleared as Southern League Church cemented their place in the next round.

Next up, we make the 404-mile round trip to Workington AFC on Saturday (3pm)

UNITED: Preston; Bowman, Roma, Dearle, Goundry; Cartwright, Thornhill (c) (Angell 45'), Thomas, Carr (Wakefield 66'); Campbell (Dacres 77'), Litchfield
SUBS (not used): Ridgley, Ritzema