AN UNEXPECTED change of opponents will not distract Alvechurch from their bid to become history-makers, according to midfielder Dave Bellis.
Midland Premier champions Alvechurch had expected to face St Andrews in the Polymac Packaging League Cup final on Monday (7.30pm) but the Leicestershire side have been expelled for fielding an ineligible player in their semi-final second leg.
Instead Hinckley AFC have been reinstated and will line up against Ian Long’s side at Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium.
While Bellis admits the Midland League Division One side will be relatively unknown opponents, Alvechurch will be driven by the desire to complete the second leg of a possible treble.
“After all the hard work we’ve put in this season, we want to finish in style,” said the midfielder and joint-captain.
“It’s been a strange season in many ways. After the start we made, I don’t think many people would have thought we would be in with a chance of winning three trophies.
“We started poorly, there was a definite hangover from last season. But the management made some changes of personnel and then we went on a winning run of 20-odd games. It showed great character and belief. Every time we went out on to the pitch we were convinced we would win.
“Winning the league was fantastic and we want more silverware.
“We lost out to Hereford last season in the league but now we’ve got the chance to emulate them in winning the title and League Cup. They are a huge club, a Football League club, and for Alvechurch, a village club, to do the double as well would be a brilliant achievement.”
Having missed the last four games through an ankle injury sustained against Coleshill Town, Bellis confirmed he will be fit for the final, along with Ryan Winwood (shoulder).
However, there will be changes from last week’s JW Hunt Cup semi-final win against Sporting Khalsa because Josh McKenzie, Lewis Gwilliams and Karl Edwards are cup-tied and regular keeper Paul Evans is unavailable.
Regardless of the line-up – with Josh March, Connor Deards, Zack Foster, Jamie Ashmore, Tom Turton and Mike Wardle all in contention after being rested – Alvechurch will be taking nothing for granted.
Manager Ian Long has been doing his homework on Hinckley, the runners-up behind Bromsgrove Sporting in Midland Division One, with a call to Sporting boss Paul Smith among others, while the squad, having been given a week off, have had three training sessions before the final.
Bellis, who has already committed his future to Alvechurch next season, stressed the Lye Meadow men will not be underestimating Hinckley, who have a raft of players with higher league experienced including four players with Chasetown on their CV.
“Whatever the opposition, they will be up for it. I don’t know too much about them but you only need to look at the table and see they have had a good season, they’ll be confident and they’ve scored a lot of goals.
“It will be a tough fixture but we will be ready.”
