LEWIS Ludford’s hat-trick helped Coventry Alvis come back from the brink to earn a 4-3 victory over Knowle in Midland League Division Two.
It means Alvis had a Bank Holiday weekend to remember, after coming out on top in Saturday’s 5-3 thriller at Lane Head, a game which Alvis also fell behind in, with Ludford again the saviour with another hat-trick.
In Bank Holiday Monday’s encounter, goals from Zak Harbon, Collins Ajayi and Charlie Griffiths established a first half lead for Knowle that looked an unassailable one at the break.
But up stepped Ludford, who crashed home a free kick on 52 minutes to reduce the deficit, before a second two minutes later provided Coventry with real hope of completing a rescue act.
The hosts were forced to wait until the 83rd minute to draw level after sustained pressure throughout the half, with their endeavours to keep venturing forward bearing fruit in stoppage time when Kier Mallen struck the winner.
Ashley Southall put hosts Lane Head in front just before the break in Saturday’s meeting, with Tobi Ojutalayo restoring parity seven minutes after the restart.
Ludford struck a six-minute hat-trick to put Alvis firmly in control of the game, before the hosts set up a tense finale after Ben Johnson and Antoine Julien both found the net.
A 90th-minute strike from Tyrike Richards made the game safe though, recording his first goal for the club in the process.
Alvis head to Earlswood Town on Saturday (3pm), when Jamie Burkacki’s side will aim to make it three wins in a row.
