The conditions throughout were almost comically severe — rain hammering down and wind gusting straight across the pitch and into the commentary booth, making controlled football a rarity for both sides. The second half saw the Bards roared on by the momentum of their comeback, and when Adam Jasper slotted into the roof of the net on his debut in the 55th minute and Dan Lafferty headed in unmarked at the back post three minutes later, the ground dared to believe the points were won. The late equaliser, conceded from a corner in added time when the keeper could not hold the ball, stripped that belief away and left the Bards reflecting on what might have been in weather that tested every player on the pitch.

The Bards twice led by two goals and looked to have secured the win at 4-2, only for Alvechurch to peg them back to 4-3 before snatching a late equaliser deep into added time when goalkeeper Jake Weaver failed to hold a corner and the ball was converted at the back post. It was a result that prompted the home commentary team to reflect that a goalkeeper who, in their view, contributed to three of Alvechurch's goals had ultimately cost the Bards the win. The afternoon had begun with Alvechurch taking a lead through what the home bench regarded as a highly contentious offside decision — the visitors' first goal appearing to go in from an offside position — before the Bards fought back with goals from Kobe Hall and skipper Paul McCone to lead 2-1 at the break. The visitors then levelled early in the second half when Danny Newton, with Alvechurch's second, benefited from a moment of goalkeeping uncertainty — the ball appearing to spill from Weaver's grasp — to make it 2-2. From that point the Bards produced their most purposeful football of the match, storming into a 4-2 lead through Adam Jasper and Dan Lafferty before a Newton header and a desperate late equaliser from a corner hauled Alvechurch level. The result extends the Bards' unbeaten run to five matches, comprising three draws and two wins, though the mood in the home press box was one of an opportunity missed against one of the division's stronger sides.

The Bards can point to moments of genuine quality throughout — the combination play that led to the third and fourth goals was the sharpest football of the afternoon, and Adam Jasper showed on his debut why the club moved to bring him in on loan from Tamworth. His energy, hold-up play and ability to operate with two large centre-halves for company were noticeable throughout, and his cross for Dan Lafferty's header underlined what he can offer the side. The return of Lafferty to midfield, prompted by Tion Critchlow-Wyo's debut at right back, also gave the Bards greater dynamism in the second half. The unbeaten run now stretches to five, and the Bards travel to Bromsgrove Sporting on Tuesday evening before hosting Hitchin Town at the Arden Garages Stadium the following Saturday. Two more new signings, Critchlow-Wyo and Josh Stidder — the latter introduced late on — give the squad further options as that run continues.

Venue: Arden Garages Stadium · Referee: Richard Dury · Competition: Non-League