IAN LONG believes Alvechurch are creating the momentum to take the title race ‘to the wire’ – and building the next generation for the club in the process.
Boss Long made nine changes to the Church team which defeated hosts Tividale 2-0 in the JW Hunt Cup on Tuesday, with Josh Sarmento and Jack Cresswell the scorers.
Long was suitably impressed by the performances of young prospects James Douglas, Brogan Halpin, Danny Moy and Callum Baker, plus 16-year-old keeper Brad Carter on his first team debut.
Long says the work of Tyrone Henderson and Danny Pilgrim with the U18s and U21s is helping lay the foundations for Alvechurch to develop future homegrown talent.
“Tuesday was the chance to have a look at some of the talented younger lads we’ve got and they showed they have got plenty of potential,” said Long.
“James Douglas did well in midfield, Brogan Halpin played at centre half alongside Mark Smith and proved he is becoming a real Mr Versatile and Brad kept a clean sheet on his debut.
“He has been with us all season and his attitude has been spot on. Our goalkeeping coach Chris Walwyn speaks very highly of him and he has plenty of confidence in him.
“With the U18s and U21s doing so well in their leagues, it shows the whole club is progressing. Tyrone Henderson and Danny Pilgrim are doing a great job but the important thing is that we work as one club, not different teams.
“It certainly makes my job easier knowing we’ve got good young players ready to come in. It bodes well for the future.”
For the present, they will be push the first team as they look to continue a remarkable ten-match winning run in the Midland Premier which has left them two points clear at the top of the table.
With Alvechurch having played more games than all their rivals, Long reckons Westfields and Lye Town are the favourites, but this weekend pits some of the title contenders in fascinating head-to-heads.
While the Churchmen head to Shepshed Dynamo, second only to the top two in the form standings, second placed Lye meet third placed Westfields and fifth takes on sixth when Sporting Khalsa face Heanor Town.
Long said: “Shepshed are having a great run, winning six and drawing one of their last seven games, including beating Khalsa, so it’s going to be a really tough game.
Threat
“They’re a real goal threat with Ben Haseley, who scored lots of goals for Halesowen, so we’re going to have a real test.
“But we’re in good form ourselves. There are some big games on Saturday but we need to concentrate on ourselves.
“Lye are the team to beat at the moment and Westfields are still in the strongest position, with their games in hand.
“We need to look after our own performances and try to take the battle for the title right to the wire. There’s still plenty of football to be played.”
Top scorer Josh March should be fit for Saturday, despite ending up in the Alexandra Hospital on Saturday after a bang on the head, with Ryan Winwood (dislocated shoulder) the only absentee.
Striker Josh Cook, however, has departed Lye Meadow to join Sutton Coldfield Town after being unable to dislodge Danny Dubidat and Jamie Spencer from the centre forward roles.
Dubidat bagged a hat-trick in Saturday’s 5-1 home win against St Andrews, with Connor Deards and Ryan Edmunds also on target, while Spencer continued his quest for full sharpness with 80 minutes against Tividale.
Baker and Moy, meanwhile, will continue their football education with a taste of West Midlands League football with a temporary spell at Tipton Town.
