Battling display sees Brakes end Church's unbeaten run Team: Day; Thompson, Walker (Rowland), Saunders, Gregory, Burgess; Webb, Mort (Hanrahan), Shearsby; Timms, Blake
A last minute goal returned Brakes to winning ways in dramatic style, eding the side's run of three Midland Combination Premier Division games without a win or a goal.
It came after Josh Blake's 51st minute opener had been cancelled out by the penalty spot, setting up a win which wrecked the home side's unbeaten record - the last one in the division - and was a fitting way to mark captain Steve Thompson's 100th match in the gold and black shirt.
The first meeting between the two teams since their Southern League days in the 1980s was a cagey affair in the opening minutes. Striker Blake shot from distance early on, but there were few real chances at either end.
Nick Mort was forced off with hamstring trouble on 20 minutes to be replaced by Chris Hanrahan. Soon after that Blake missed following Glenn Webb's cross from a Timms back heel.
Alvechurch had two good chances to take the lead in the first half. A volley was blasted wide from very close range and keeper Myles Day got down well to stop the other. Another good chance for the home side went begging as half-time loomed.
Things were very different after the break.On 51 minutes, Blake fired in a right-footed goal - his first in the league since August - after Andy Gregory's free-kick was headed on by Webb.
Looking nothing like the lack-lustre side of recent weeks, Brakes were now first to every ball and full of hungry running. Webb and Jonny Burgess were causing the Alvechurch defenceall sorts of problems with their pace and guile.
Despite all that, the home side equalised on 67 minutes from the spot after a push by Simon Walker. The striker was quick to ground, but it was a clear penalty.
Had Alvechurch not scuffed a shot when clean through on Day's goal it would probably have been all over. Instead, the miss seemed to turn the game once more.
Barry Shearsby headed over eight minutes from time, just before Walker was taken off injured. Mark Rowland replaced him for what looked like being a backs-to-the-wall exercise.
Day, also injured by this time, bravely raced out to clear a through ball. The travelling fans were more than happy to hang on for a point by this stage. Instead, Timms pressure in a crowded area saw a defender put through his own net on the stroke of full time.
Match report by Simon Steele
NBB Man-of-the-Match: Chris Hanrahan
