Torrential rain had put the game in doubt, but the pitch survived several inspections and when play commenced the Glassboys were quick to make their mark.

Chay Tilt (pictured) picked up possession wide out on the left flank in the ninth minute and cut inside before firing home a superb shot from the edge of the area which beat Church goalkeeper Matt Sargeant at his far post.

But following this early breakthrough, play developed into a war of attrition as the pitch started to cut up.

Chances proved at a premium although Stourbridge went close on 21 minutes when Jordan Williams headed just over from a Tilt corner.

Former Walsall star Adam Nicholls then pounced on an understruck back-pass from Church central defender Kyle Morrison on 42 minutes but before he could take advantage, the alert Sargeant sprinted off his line to win the race for possession and cleared the danger.

Church hardly had a shot in the first half but looked much more positive after the break.

Connor Deards had a shot well held by Glassboys goalkeeper Charlie Price on 46 minutes and then Dominic Brown-Hill had a first time effort flash just past the post in the 55th minute.

But a key moment of the game arrived on 61 minutes when Price pulled off a fantastic save to keep out Mitch Botfield's penalty after Williams was judged to have brought down Deards.

Price was to prove the hero again on 79 minutes when he stood tall to save from Kevin Monteiro after the Church striker had broken clean through the Stourbridge defence.

Stourbridge struggled to make much headway in attack in the second period, however sub Will Grocott did draw a save away to his right from Sargeant with a 20-yard strike.

After the game, Glassboys boss Ian Long was quick to praise Price and claimed: "Charlie's come in for the injured James Wren and he's been superb. Charlie knows Mitch Botfield well from his days at Alvechurch and I'm sure there was a bit of banter taking place before the penalty.

"Conditions were really tough and at one point I thought the game was very close to being called off, so it was a credit to both sides in the way they handled things.

"But in the end, it was just important to get the three points, which we did".

Stourbridge: Price; Tonks, Nicholls (Landell 52), Williams, Carter, Jordaan Brown, Bellis (Turton 85), Hayward, Andre Brown, Tilt (Grocott 75), Birch. Subs not used: Dwyer, Ezewele.

Alvechurch: Sargeant; Dovey, Taylor Morrison, Brown-Hill, Kyle Morrison, Hull, Monteiro, Botfield, Zazi ( Phillips 55), Nabi (Wollacot 48), Deards ( Bailey-Nicholls 73). Subs not used: Monaghan, Ashton.

Referee: Olly Mackey

Attendance: 487