Football
Alvechurch relishing Wolves encounter

ALVECHURCH are bidding to attract a bumper gate to Lye Meadow for Wednesday's Birmingham Senior Cup last 16 fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wolves, who hammered Rushall Olympic - a team two divisions higher than Alvechurch - 5-0 in the last round, usually field a sprinkling of first team squad members in this competition, although their side mainly features their under 21s team.

The visitors are likely to name highly-rated 18-year-old winger Zeli Ismail, who has attracted interest from Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal, in their side and may also select talented goalkeeper Jonathan Flatt who, like Ismail, has recently signed a new two-and-a-half-year deal with the Championship outfit.

Ismail made his first team debut for Wolves in September's 6-0 defeat at Chelsea in the League Cup.

A fascinating encounter is in prospect as the rapidly improving Alvechurch side, which is of course littered with Birmingham City development squad youngsters who have been brought to the club by boss Dean Holtham, tackles the Black Country boys.

To add to the occasion, Alvechurch have their 1982 Southern League-winning goalkeeper Reg Edwards coming down from his new home in Doncaster to watch the game and he is also kindly sponsoring the match.

Admission to the match, which kicks-off at 7.30pm, is £5 and £3 for concessions. Kids are admitted free with paying adults and will receive some free sweets.

Before that mid-table Alvechurch, who saw Saturday's Midland Alliance match at home to bottom placed Ellesmere Rangers postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, are in action tomorrow at high-flying Gornal Athletic, who have only lost one league game this season.

Studley also saw their match at Kirby Muxloe on Saturday postponed, as well as Tuesday's Worcestershire Senior Urn quarter-final at home to Lye Town.

Pitch permitting, they will entertain Tipton Town tomorrow, as they seek a victory which they hope will take them out of the bottom three.

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