Redditch Sport
Scott: Draw can be our catalyst
12:00pm Friday 3rd February 2012
JOINT manager Graham Scott is hoping Saturday’s fine 1-1 draw at Midland Alliance title-chasers Westfields proves to be turning point in Alvechurch’s battle to escape relegation.
Jazz Luckie’s early strike gave the Churchmen the advantage and despite Sam Bowen grabbing a second-half leveller, a point against the division’s second-placed team gave them a much-needed boost.
With Alvechurch still very much embroiled in a relegation battle, Scott believes every point they earn is vital.
The Lye Meadow outfit, who played Highgate last night in an vital bottom-of-the-table clash, face another difficult test when they entertain third-placed Gresley Rovers on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
“I don’t think anybody gave us a chance of getting something from Westfields apart from ourselves,” said a buoyed Scott.
“If they win their games in hand they could be top-of-the-table so this is the sort of result which could act as a catalyst.
“We scored early and that was like putting the cat among the pigeons but I thought we played well and deserved our point. We’ve had a tough season but hopefully this could be a turning point for us.”
Alvechurch will be without suspended duo Sam Wills (who began his five-match ban at the weekend) and Rob Freeman but new signing Lee Dunkley, who debuted on Saturday after joining on-loan from Shirley Town, is set to play.
Scott added: “We’ve had Westfields, Highgate in a big relegation clash on Tuesday and now Gresley on Saturday.
“We had a similar sort of run of very hard fixtures earlier in the season but hopefully we can give them a good game and get something from it.”
Meanwhile, Town booked their place in the Worcestershire Senior Urn final last Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Lye Town.
Elliott Nash’s 11th minute goal set up a clash against either Studley or Bewdley Town, who saw their semi-final called off because of wet weather last week.
The game has now been rescheduled for next Tuesday (7.45pm kick-off).
n Studley will be hoping to stop the rot this weekend after going down 5-0 to potent Tividale in the league on Saturday, which is their sixth defeat in a row.
The Bees tackle Stratford Town at home in the Alliance on Saturday (3pm kick-off).