Gordon hits late winner as Puritans pick up three more points

The Puritans beat lowly Alvechurch 2-1 in Saturday's Premier Central clash at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium. Giorgio Rasulo gave United the first half lead which was cancelled out by Kyle Perry only for Gordon to grab the late winner with his 12th league goal of the season.

United missed an early opportunity when Claudio Dias neatly slipped the ball inside to John Mills who took one touch too many in the six-yard box and Joseph Slinn was quickly off his line to smother. Alvechurch went close when Jack Harding's punch fell kindly for Aaron Birch whose effort was deflected wide by Jack Westbrook.

United almost broke the deadlock when Morgan Roberts neatly exchanged passes with Kynan Isaac and then Mills in the box before firing into the side-netting from ten yards. Mills saw his volley deflected over after Alvechuch failed to fully deal with Rasulo's free-kick.

In an end-to-end affair, United began to get on top as the half progressed, increasing the tempo to try and make the break through. Eddie Odhiambo and Gordon combined on the right to release Mills who saw his effort blocked.

But Rasulo finally put United in front in the 29th minute. Receiving possession in the Alvechurch half, Rasulo advanced, cut inside and beat Slinn with a curling effort from 20 yards, the ball nestling in the corner of the net via the inside of the post.

United should have doubled their advantage when a quick counter-attack saw them break with a man advantage through Dias. But, with Gordon free to his right and Mills to his left, Dias opted to shoot from 20 yards and his effort went past the post.

United picked up from where they left off after the restart and had Alvechurch penned in for a ten-minute spell. They created several openings, the best ending with Slinn saving from Morgan Roberts at his near post.

Slinn produced a superb reaction save to keep out a fierce drive from Dias as United turned the screw. But Alvechurch dug in and defended stoutly to frustrate Mike Ford's side.

Rasulo's 25 yard free-kick beat Slinn but went just wide of the upright but Alvechurch equalised in the 70th minute with a goal all of United's own making. Odhiambo's misplaced back pass evaded Lee Henderson and from Finley Thorndike's ensuing corner, Jamie Willets helped the ball on for the unmarked Perry to head home.

Stung by the equaliser, United were left chasing the three points in the closing stages and Isaac's run into the box ended with his effort being deflected over. But Thorndike squandered a good opportunity when he mis-kicked from a good position after being set up by substitute Javia Roberts.

Substitute Pablo Haysham fired over from 15 yards before Ford threw on Amer Awadh who almost caught out Slinn from 20 yards, the keeper parrying the ball with Odhiambo only able to find the side-netting from the rebound.

Jordan Goddard went close when his late free-kick was palmed away by Harding and substitute Kevin Da Veiga Monteiro fired just wide as Alvechurch sensed an unlikely winner. United kept knocking on the door and Awadh's quickly taken corner found Rasulo whose snap-shot was saved by Slinn.

Harding saved from Roberts after he broke clear as both sides went for the winner and it was United who got in the 88th minute. United won a free-kick and Connor Roberts caught Alvechurch napping when he slipped the ball through to Rasulo who found Gordon, he took one touch before finding the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards.

Thorndike almost grabbed a point in stoppage-time when his low drive curled away from the far post. But United were not to be caught out again and held on for another three points.