FOOTBALL: ALVIS Sporting were defeated 3-2 by Fairfield Villa in the Midland League Presidents Cup Final played at Stourport Swifts on Tuesday evening.
Although Alvis Sporting had defeated Fairfield Villa on two previous occasions this season, the Green Lane side were playing their tenth game in just a month.
Sporting finished as beaten finalists for the second consecutive season in this competition.
Playing in Worcestershire – near the home of Fairfield Villa – Alvis Sporting started promisingly with a Michael Quirke 25 yard free kick being pushed onto the post by the Fairfield goalkeeper, and then Kiam Galdins headed narrowly wide following a corner.
Alvis Sporting were then stunned by two Fairfield goals within a minute midway through the half.
A stunning strike from 30 yards by Fairfield striker Connor Collins opened the account and then Collins latched on to a mistake by Michael Quirke to easily score a second.
After 39 minutes Collins completed his hat trick, taking advantage of a further defensive mistake to score from eight yards out.
Just before the break Corrie Powell produced a magnificent save to deny Sporting a goal.
However Kiam Galdins reduced the deficit on 49 minutes with a left footed strike from close range.
In the closing stages Tommy Maguire hit the bar, and then Dildane Linton robbed the goalkeeper to score for Alvis.
In a frantic finish to the game Alvis threw everything at the Fairfield defence in attempting to get an equaliser, and Najid Abukar had a fine header hacked off the line.
Alvis Sporting manager Damian Cassidy said: “At the break we were left with a mountain to climb.
“We battled hard in the second half to pull two goals back, but we again lacked composure in front of goal which made all the difference.”
