STRIKER Danny Waldron netted a second-half double on Tuesday night as Alvechurch comfortably beat Bromsgrove Sporting 3-0 to win the first Worcestershire derby of the season.

Both sides lost their openers in the Southern Premier League Central Division; Church went down 1-0 to St Ives Town whilst Sporting were thumped 4-0 at home by Leiston.

And it was a similarly miserable evening for Bromsgrove on Tuesday, who have now conceded seven goals in their opening two games of the 2021/22 campaign.

But it was a brilliant performance from the hosts Church, who looked slick and in control for the majority of the fixture, with their goals coming from Charlie Dowd in the first-half and Dowden's two in the second.

In the all Worcestershire affair, it was a typically fiery opening quarter with neither side giving an inch.

Church's Dave Bellis and Sporting's Jack Wilson were both carded by the referee as the tackles flew in.

There were chances at both ends early on as skipper Jamie Willets crashed a header off the bar for the hosts following a free-kick and then Sporting's Nathan Hayward saw his shot tipped over the bar by Dan Jezeph in the Alvechurch goal.

The visitors then had loud appeals for a penalty turned away after a succession of tackles saw a number of Bromsgrove players hit the deck.

But it was the home side who took the lead in the derby, when a ball fell kindly in the box for Dowd, who poked it home past Max Beardmore.

The game became slightly scrappy thereafter with neither side able to really test the 'keepers.

Into the second-half and Church ramped up the intensity and should have doubled their lead after just three minutes when Waldron went 1-on-1 with Beardmore, the latter rushing out to block his goal-bound effort.

But the second goal did come on the 56th minute.

Tristan Dunkley burst down the right and his attempted cross looked to have been cleared but the forward was able to head the ball back into the box to Dowden, who equally used his to nod it past Beardmore.

Church had chances to extend their lead and should have done with 20 minutes to go but Josh Ezewele slapped a closer-range effort over the bar

The hosts did eventually apply the icing to the cake in stoppage time when Dowden's penalty went through Beardmore and sealed a mightily impressive performance for Ian Long's men.

Up next, Church host Hednesford and Sporting go to Needham Market, both on Saturday.