IAN LONG expressed his anger after Alvechurch were told to scrap next week’s Polymac Packaging League Cup tie by the Midland League.
The Church manager labelled the decision by the league to postpone their match at home to Westfields as a ‘joke’, blaming league officials for setting a precedent which could favour some clubs over others.
Long stressed Westfields, who create FA Cup history a week on Saturday with their debut appearance in the first round proper, had no blame for the situation.
But he was annoyed Alvechurch, who had rejected an initial request from the league to move the game, were told to call off the match on Tuesday evening – the same night they were playing Stourport Swifts in the Worcestershire Senior Urn.
Facing a fourth game in eight days, Long had made 11 changes to the starting XI from Saturday’s 2-0 home win against Coleshill Town which moved them to the top of the Premier Division table.
On Tuesday, a goal from new striker Josh Cooke just six minutes into the game at Walshes Meadow gave Alvechurch the lead, but Swifts levelled through Reece Shilvock. The visitors then bowed out 5-3 on penalties after Babucar Suane missed his spot-kick.
“I made 11 changes on Tuesday because we had three tough games in the last week and we were expecting to play Coventry United, Westfields and Brocton in the next week,” said Long.
“Then in the warm-up, after I had named the team, our secretary told me the league had called off the Westfields match and it been moved to November 22.
“I can understand Westfields would want a free week next week before they play in the FA Cup first round but that’s why you have a squad, to make sure you’ve got enough players for every game.
“My players had booked time off next Tuesday and changed their shifts expecting to have to play Westfields. When we played Westfields in the league in September on a Wednesday, some of my players couldn’t play but I didn’t moan about it. We just got on with it.
Messed around
“The League Cup is an important competition for us but we’re being messed around. I’m absolutely cheesed off.
“We’re the holders of the Urn and I made the changes on Tuesday because of the schedule we had. If I knew we would have had a free week next week, I wouldn’t have changed the whole team.”
The Alvechurch line-up featured five debutants against Swifts, including former Swindon Town forward Cooke and former Stafford Rangers and Boldmere winger Ryan Edmunds.
Defender Khori Foster, who has come over to England after being on the roster of Fort Lauderdale Strikers, ex-Tividale keeper Tim Beech and former Tipton centre back Paul Henley also played, alongside U21s player Brogan Halpin and youth-teamer Aidan Doherty.
Long said the inclusion of the new faces – plus the likes of former Redditch striker Jamie Spencer as he looks for fitness after a stop-start spell – proved they have the strength in depth in the squad.
Alvechurch entertain Coventry United on Saturday but Long admits their presence in top spot is misleading. They have played six games more than Westfields, who trail by just two points, while Coventry lie eighth, with seven games in hand.
“We’re in a false position,” said Long. “I would much rather be in Westfields’ position but all we can do is to take one game at a time, look to win every game and see where that leaves us.”
On Saturday Josh March kept up his impressive goalscoring record as he netted twice in a 2-0 win against fourth placed Coleshill.
It took him to joint top of the league hot-shot charts, with front-runner March slotting home a penalty on seven minutes after he had been fouled by keeper Paul Hathaway and then converting a Daniel Dubidat cross on 56 minutes.