FOOTBALL – Alvechurch thrash Bedworth United in pre-season opener as trio of debutants strike

A TRIO of debut goals ensured Alvechurch started pre-season with a victory following a 4-1 success at Bedworth United.

Nick Clayton-Phillips, Miracle Okafor and Ben Stephens all notched goals on debut while a trialist also found the net for Kyle Storer’s side at the Oval.

Bedworth play one level below Alvechurch in the Northern Premier League Midlands division.

Clayton-Phillips marked his return to the club with a goal on 31 minutes before debutant Okafor doubled the away side’s lead five minutes after the break.

Bedworth halved the deficit from the penalty spot just past the hour mark before a trialist restored Church’s two-goal lead four minutes from time.

And the visitors added a fourth goal at the death as Stephens netted a debut goal for Alvechurch.

Storer said: “It’s great to be back playing games and the games are going to come thick and fast now.

“It did what it said on the tin, it was a good fitness workout and it was pleasing certain people put the ball in the back of the net.

“We wanted to see what players could understand what we’re after. It was a bit patchy at times in the first half.

“The intensity was a lot better in the second half. It gets a little bit messy with trialists but it was pleasing to score four goals.

“We’re always on the lookout for better players than we have. We’re not just after numbers, we’re after quality.

“I’m really pleased with what we’ve got in the building. If something pops up then hopefully we can do something about that.”

Alvechurch continue their pre-season campaign against Solihull Moors on Saturday, July 11 with kick-off at 3pm at Lye Meadow.