IAN LONG accepts Alvechurch are now the Midland League Premier Division title favourites but he stressed he will not let his players lower their standards.
Despite the postponement of Saturday’s home game against Long Eaton United, the Churchmen strengthened their position at the top of the table after nearest rivals Lye Town and Coleshill Town both lost.
Long then hailed one of the best performances in recent months as Alvechurch secured a second cup semi-final by sweeping aside visitors Brocton 4-0 in the JW Hunt Cup on Tuesday.
Reece Shilvock smashed home a 35-yard rocket to give a reshuffled Alvechurch team the lead on the stroke of half time before Karl Edwards fired home his first goal since returning to the club three minutes into the second period.
Josh March slotted home the third after great play by man of the match Brogan Halpin and Jamie Ashmore and then new signing Noble Ramsay made it 4-0 with a sweet finish to round off another excellent move.
“We played some really good stuff, we popped the ball around and played as well as we have for a good while,” said Long.
“In all honesty, the JW Hunt Cup isn’t our main goal but our approach and our tempo was superb. We made changes but I can’t praise the players enough. I could sit back in my seat in the dugout and just enjoy it. It was fantastic. That’s the sort of performance we’re going to need in the next few weeks.
“The whole squad seems to be firing on all cylinders and it seems we’re hitting form at the right time.”
Victory set up a semi-final against Sporting Khalsa or Lichfield City to add to a calendar which features a two-legged Polymac Packaging League Cup semi-final against Highgate United and nine league games.
Long has been keen to stress all season that any one of six teams could be champions but he feels the number of contenders is now down to three.
The Churchmen lie nine points ahead of Coleshill, who have a game in a hand, and 14 points ahead of Lye, who have two games in hand, while Khalsa are 19 points behind with five matches in hand.
“Saturday’s results couldn’t have gone any better for us,” said Long.
“I don’t think anybody would want to swap our position. I can’t argue now that we are the favourites.
“I think Lye have too much to do now after five league and cup defeats in a row. Coleshill have got the FA Vase semi-finals to focus on and I can’t blame them for that, but like Khalsa they are capable of putting a run together. We’ve got to play them both and the other top teams have got to play each other so we’re not taking anything for granted.
The Churchmen have no game this weekend and return to action at Coventry United next Saturday.
