IAN LONG believes Alvechurch have given themselves a ‘fighting chance’ of winning the Midland League Premier Division after their ‘dreadful’ start to the season.
Long says the Churchmen’s 11 league wins in a row has provided much-needed momentum back into their campaign as they head into the festive fixtures.
The Lye Meadow boss admits it has taken time to finally get last season’s title near-miss – finishing second to Hereford despite winning 101 points – out of their system, but he feels they are equipped to maintain their championship challenge.
“We have salvaged our season after we had a horrendous start,” said Long. “We always thought, myself, Rich Colwell and the coaching staff, that there would be a hangover from last season.
“That proved to be the case and only now are we starting to recover. The run we’ve put together has given us a fighting chance. It was a dreadful start but we’ve changed things around, we’ve brought players in, we’ve worked hard and I’m a lot, lot happier now.”
Favourites Westfields’ midweek result also did that. The Hereford side had to settle for a draw at Loughborough, leaving table-toppers Alvechurch with a four-point gap over second placed Lye Town and ten-point advantage over Westfields, who have two and five games in hand respectively.
“When we played Westfields back in October they could have been 19 points ahead of us if they had won and won their games in hand, but now that’s down to five points,” said Long.
“We’re still the outsiders but I think there are going to be plenty of twists and turns in the second half of the season. Lye are going to be up there, they’re better placed than we are, and so are Westfields.
“Coleshill and Sporting Khalsa, Heanor and Coventry United will be challenging. Then team likes AFC Wulfs, Highgate and Shepshed are going to take points off teams.”
Alvechurch had Josh March to thank for Saturday’s 1-0 win at Shepshed Dynamo. The top scorer bagged the winner on 13 minutes after Danny Dubidat played in the on-fire forward who rolled the ball under keeper Ben Gathercole and into the net.
A goalline clearance denied March another goal, while keeper Gathercole was kept busy to deny Dubidat, Ryan Edmunds and March, but Alvechurch had enough to see out the victory.
The Churchmen will look for another winning away day on Saturday when they visit Boldmere St Michaels, with Long warning they cannot underestimate a team who he felt scuppered their title dream last season.
The Mikes are expected to be boosted by former Redditch midfielder Simeon Maye, who has left Hednesford Town.
“We drew 2-2 at home and then we missed a penalty and lost 1-0 at Boldmere to an 86th minute goal,” said Long. “That cost us the title.
“Boldmere have been a bit of a bogey side and they had a great result last week to beat Coleshill, but it’s important we concentrate on our own games and try to keep winning games.”
Alvechurch will have only Ryan Winwood missing from an otherwise fully-fit squad. The midfielder is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder.
