ALVECHURCH manager Ian Long says a historic double would be the perfect finale to their Midland League campaign – and set the standard for next season.
The title winners will look to add the Polymac Packaging League Cup to the trophy cabinet when they face Hinckley AFC in the final at Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium tonight (Monday).
Hereford completed the double last season but only two other clubs – Leamington and Market Drayton Town – have won both the league and cup in the same season since the Midland Alliance was formed in 1994.
Long says tonight’s game offers the chance to create history and the league cup has been one of their priorities despite a busy finale to the season which will also include the JW Hunt Cup final at Molineux.
“Hereford won the double and we would love to emulate their achievement,” said Long.
“It’s important to finish the season in style but also to create some momentum to take into next season.
“It would be disappointing now to end what has been a memorable season with just one trophy. We are two games away from a treble. If we don’t do it know, it would mean we’ve finished the season on a bit of a low.”
Long is likely to make wholesale changes from the JW Hunt win against Sporting Khalsa but he already promised the players which featured against Khalsa will be the names on the team sheet to meet Wednesfield, who beat Highgate United last week, in the JW Hunt final at Molineux on Tuesday, May 23.
Dave Bellis and Ryan Winwood, who have missed the past four games after being hurt against Coleshill, will both be fit but Josh McKenzie, Karl Edwards and Lewis Gwilliams are cup-tied and keeper Paul Evans is away.
Jamie Ashmore, Tom Turton, Mike Wardle, Connor Deards, and Zack Foster were all rested against Khalsa.
Alvechurch had initially expected to face St Andrews in the League Cup final but they were thrown out for fielding an ineligible player in the semi-finals, with their opponents Hinckley being reinstated.
It has meant some hasty research, with Long contacting rival bosses, including Bromsgrove Sporting’s Paul Smith.
“Hinckley might have got into the final by default but they won’t be worried about that,” said Long.
“They will be a good side, they finished runners-up to Bromsgrove and they have got a lot of players with experience of Step Three football. We will do our homework and plan as well as we can.”
