I’m going to let you in on a little story. As soon as the FA Cup draw was made, I was highly sceptical that one of these previews would be written. When Plymouth Argyle were drawn at home to either Spalding United or Alvechurch, I had deep doubts that anything relevant would exist online to provide meaningful insight into either potential opponent.
Customarily, I had a look through my standard data sources to see what may be available. And I was pleasantly surprised. Whilst stats didn’t seem to exist for seventh-tier Alvechurch, there was surprisingly in-depth information for Spalding in the sixth tier. Perfect! Sure, they had to win the replay, but as the higher-ranked team they’d surely get the job done and make my task a little easier, right?
Wrong, obviously. Not only did Alvechurch win, they trounced their opponents from the league above, storming to a 4-0 triumph. It took them into the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in four years.
I’m sure you’ll be proud when I say I ploughed on regardless. What you’re about to read is the culmination of research methods I don’t usually find necessary. That includes, but is not limited to, looking through Twitter feeds for substitution times, and watching YouTube highlights with a camera lens that isn’t always the clearest, but with a microphone that picks up all the industrial language on the touchline. All of it. Believe me.
Let’s take the closest look possible at Argyle’s seventh-tier opponents.
Style of play
Kyle Storer featured for several non-league clubs in his playing career, and also made 44 appearances in League Two for Cheltenham Town. He took over as Alvechurch manager in 2025, shortly after leaving a playing contract at Kettering Town, and I’ve noticed a few traits from his team both in and out of possession.
Given Alvechurch are likely to be without the ball more often than not on Saturday, we’ll start by looking at them out of possession. Immediately, I’m drawn to the fact they tend to play a deep defensive line. Right from the first moments of their opening day game against Storer’s old side Kettering, you could see how deep Alvechurch liked to sit, even with the ball a fair distance from their goal.
At the last count, Argyle had been caught offside more than any team in League One. I wouldn’t expect to see much of that this weekend. Alvechurch will, quite reasonably, sit as deep as possible and challenge their hosts to break them down. Argyle’s creative threats will need to be up to the task and operate well in tight spaces; I imagine Danny Mayor would’ve had a field day.
There’s a fun story in that defensive line too. Danish centre back Johan Rask is only in the country by chance. He moved to England when his best friend, August Priske, secured a big money move to Birmingham City in January. Looking for a club himself, Rask eventually signed for nearby Alvechurch, where he remains to this day.
Club captain Forsyth didn’t start any of the first 13 games of Alvechurch’s season, but he’s now started six of the last seven.
Fun though the story may be, there’s no guarantee Rask will feature. I do suspect we’ll see Jessy Bavanganga and George Forsyth play in some capacity, with both having recovered from recent injuries. Club captain Forsyth didn’t start any of the first 13 games of Alvechurch’s season, but he’s now started six of the last seven.
Elsewhere at the back, goalkeeper Redman Evans – excellent name – is the only Alvechurch player to have played every possible minute in all competitions this season. Meanwhile, Harry Reilly has started all bar one game at right back, and on the left I think Jack Kelly is probably the most likely starter. Midfielder Callum Sullivan is versatile, and can cover either of the full back positions where required.
Now, in possession Alvechurch do sometimes like to get the ball down and play. Given Tom Cleverley’s style in recent weeks, there’s a cynical argument that the visitors will be the team playing the more attractive football this weekend. As such, having technical players in midfield to work the ball from defence to attack are key.
Enter Jamey Osborne. The 34-year-old made over 300 appearances for Solihull Moors before joining Alvechurch this summer, and he’s operated as their chief deep-lying playmaker ever since. I suspect Sullivan will join him in midfield, possibly in one of the wide positions, whilst Sam Perry and Jonathan Ngandu both seem capable of performing to Osborne’s right.
Some may say they’re looking for a miracle this weekend, but there’s already one on the books.
Admittedly, Alvechurch will opt to go long occasionally, which requires a target man. Some may say they’re looking for a miracle this weekend, but there’s already one on the books, with Miracle Okafor regularly leading the line. He’s the classic “big man up front” in this side and, as we’ll explore shortly, he’s certainly a capable goalscorer.
That just leaves the rest of the attack, where there are a few options. Manny Ilesanmi seems at his best when cutting in from the left flank, and the same can probably be said of Nick Clayton-Phillips. However, Ilesanmi’s recent injury led to the arrival of free agent Danny Newton, who is probably more of a striker by trade. Jaiden Francis-Caesar has also recently arrived on a short-term loan from West Bromwich Albion.
Alvechurch also have the option of playing Tope Obadeyi, who has mainly been used from the bench so far this year. He’s a one-time Argyle goalscorer, you know.
Strengths
For this game specifically, I think you can categorise Alvechurch’s strengths into two distinct boxes: tangible and intangible.
In terms of tangible strengths, there are a couple of individuals I think are worthy of special mentions. Okafor is a good place to start. Quite simply, he is Alvechurch’s main attacking threat. His total of 14 goal contributions is double what anyone else in the squad has managed, and all 14 have been goals. Sure, there have been a few penalties thrown in to inflate that figure, but the 25-year-old has been a goalscoring machine ever since joining the club this summer, and Argyle ought to be on alert.
Whilst he hasn’t got any assists this year, Okafor is heavily involved in the build-up play. That’s both in terms of holding up the ball from long passes, and contributing in the final third. I was struck by an early chance in a recent game with Stamford. Okafor didn’t score in the end, but the way he used his body to create the opportunity reminded me so much of Bim Pepple, and in particular his goals this season against Barnsley and Crystal Palace’s kids.
Then there’s Osborne. As I mentioned, he joined this summer having made over 300 appearances for Solihull Moors. All of those appearances came two divisions higher than Alvechurch’s current level, and Osborne does also have EFL experience from his time with Grimsby Town – he appeared from the bench against Argyle in the final game of the 2016/17 season.
While his career has now reached its twilight years, Osborne doesn’t seem to have lost any technical ability. Remarkably, he’s already scored three goals directly from free kicks this season, including one in Alvechurch’s replay win over Spalding in the previous round. And how could I not bring up the goal he scored from the centre circle during an early-season victory over Needham Market?
On a more general point, Alvechurch like to make the most of “two on one” situations out wide. Argyle should be well set to deal with many of these in their current shape, given one of the wider centre backs should be able to aid their wing back where required, but they still ought to be prepared. That approach helped right back Reilly register two assists in an earlier round against AFC Wolverhampton City, which I only learnt was the actual name of a football club earlier this week.
In general, all the above points demonstrate a strong Alvechurch attack. As well as knocking four past Spalding in the cup, they’ve scored 27 league goals in 14 games so far this season, averaging just shy of two per game. Furthermore, only league leaders Real Bedford have a better goal difference than Alvechurch, and they’ve played two more games than Storer’s men.
Naturally, there are also the intangible strengths to consider. It’s impossible to measure the exact extent, but this is clearly a bigger game for Alvechurch than it is for Argyle. That brings upset potential.
Arsenal, the best team in the country right now, were knocked out of the EFL Cup by Fleetwood Town.
The “magic of the cup” may not be what it once was, but upsets still happen every season. Only last year, the defending champions of this competition failed in their defence at the first hurdle against sixth-tier Macclesfield. Less than a fortnight ago, Arsenal, the best team in the country right now, were knocked out of the EFL Cup by Fleetwood Town. And away sides can do the same; in the recent past, Maidstone United knocked Ipswich Town out of the FA Cup in the same season as the Tractor Boys were promoted to the Premier League.
It is not unreasonable for us as supporters to expect Argyle to win this game. The players, however, must absolutely guard against complacency.
Weaknesses
Well, I think it makes sense to start with the obvious: in terms of the divisions separating the sides, this could be the biggest competitive mismatch in Argyle’s history.
Four divisions and 97 league positions separate the two sides. For context, 83 positions currently separate Arsenal and Fleetwood. And, based on what I can find anyway, Argyle have never played an opponent four divisions apart from themselves in a competitive game.
There have obviously been huge gulfs in perceived class before, and many will remember games against Stourbridge and Dorchester with a shudder. However, both of those meetings came when Argyle were in the fourth tier themselves. I’ve been unable to find any examples of Argyle playing seventh-tier opponents while in the third tier, or indeed sixth-tier opponents while in the second.
The Alvechurch game must surely be the biggest competitive mismatch in either direction.
Of course, that’s true the other way as well. Given Argyle have never fallen out of the EFL (not for the want of trying a decade-and-a-half ago!), they’ve never played a team four or more divisions higher than themselves in the pyramid. Therefore, the Alvechurch game must surely be the biggest competitive mismatch in either direction.
Obviously, that’s a hugely significant disadvantage for Alvechurch. It doesn’t automatically mean Argyle will win the game and, as I mentioned in the previous section, they’ll need to guard against complacency throughout. Nonetheless, the difference between the two squads is undeniable. Whenever I’ve backed Argyle to win this season, it’s often been on the basis of a gap in quality between the two sides. Here, that’s a chasm.
I also think Alvechurch’s general lack of quality is reflected in some specific weaknesses. For example, there have already been far too many errors leading to shots and goals this season for my liking. The first saw left back Kelly gift Worcester City an equaliser back in August…
…then there was another incident in the Needham Market game, where goalkeeper Evans was incredibly fortunate not to concede after spilling the ball onto his own post…
…and the problem has plagued them in the cup before too, with Reilly’s errant pass gifting Bourne Town their winning goal in an FA Trophy clash.
I don’t bring these up to fire needless shots at semi-professional footballers. There is obviously still talent in the ranks – Evans in particular has shown enough in the highlights to demonstrate he’s a quality shot-stopper, and he saved a penalty in the 4-0 win over Spalding. Still, this is far from an exhaustive list of mistakes, and it’s evidence that Argyle should be able to generate plenty of chances this weekend. Some may be presented to them directly.
I also think there are some specific weaknesses at the other end. Primarily, it seems as though a lack of quality in their decision-making in the final third is preventing Alvechurch from reaching their full potential. Watching the highlights, I’ve seen several occasions when players have opted to shoot, when a pass clearly represented the better option.
It would be totally understandable for each and every one of Alvechurch’s players to want to “be the hero” at Home Park.
There’s a fear that could be doubly impactful this weekend. Given the stature of the fixture, it would be totally understandable for each and every one of Alvechurch’s players to want to “be the hero” at Home Park. That could lead to players taking shots on from increasingly improbable positions, with better openings being spurned as a result. With the visitors unlikely to create too many chances overall this weekend, that could prove significant.
Prediction
I’m not going to galaxy brain this. Yes, upsets do happen every season, but the whole reason they’re special is precisely because they’re upsets. They’d hardly have the same effect if they happened every week, and on most occasions the higher-ranked team tends to pull through.
It is by no means disrespectful to our visitors this weekend to suggest that a comfortable Argyle victory is by far the likeliest outcome.
Plymouth Argyle 3-0 Alvechurch
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