THE strength in depth of Alvechurch’s squad will be fully tested on Saturday when the Churchmen bid to take another step towards Wembley.
Manager Ian Long has had to rule out in-form hot-shot Jordan Nadat, who is cup-tied, the suspended Mark Smith and Luke Paskin, and the unavailable Leigh Downing for the long FA Vase first round trip to Wisbech Town.
Long is never afraid to shuffle his side but he admits the absence of four such influential players will mean he will have to call on a couple of youth-teamers to travel.
Wisbech lie seventh in the United Counties League and Long warned his side will need to be on the top of their game.
“It’s going to be tough. We’ve got players missing for one reason or another,” said Long.
“But the 11 we send out will be competitive and, in every game, it’s always about winning your individual battles against your opponent.”
Alvechurch will head to the Fens in good heart after successive wins – thrashing visitors Continental Star 8-0 to equal the club’s highest tally in the Midland Alliance/Midland League on Saturday and then recording a 2-0 win at Dudley Sports in the Worcestershire Senior Urn on Tuesday.
Nadat completed a hat-trick inside 28 minutes against basement side Continental, whilst Karl Edwards and Connor Deards netted twice and the returning Jack Cresswell was also on target.
On Tuesday, Leigh Downing slotted home the 28th minute penalty opener at West Midlands Premier side Sports and Nadat made it five goals in three games with the second ten minutes into the second half.
Alvechurch will now visit Studley in the Urn quarter-finals on November 11.
If there is no Vase replay for either team, the Churchmen will head to Coventry Sphinx on Monday for a Polymac Packaging League Cup second round contest.
