TABLE toppers Alvechurch were handed a perfect start to the New Year when title rivals Westfields and Lye Town were surprisingly beaten.

Lye lost out 3-1 at bottom side Brocton on Monday while Westfields were walloped 5-1 by Shawbury.

Church had their proposed fixture with Tividale called off owing to a frozen pitch which enabled manager Ian Long to watch the second half of Brocton's game with Lye.

Long said: "It was a very worthwhile exercise and as far as the result was concerned, we couldn't have asked for more.

"I still believe we are underdogs to win the title and all we can do is concentrate on ourselves.

"We've got 16 league games left to play and we've just got to try and take as many points as possible from them and see where that takes us. I'm sure they'll still be plenty of twists and turns along the way."

The Church rounded off 2016 in style when crushing Quorn 5-0 on New Year's Eve.

Church came flying out of the blocks and were 3-0 up within seven minutes.

Long added: "I felt a bit sorry for Quorn. They'd had a long journey from Leicestershire and you could tell they didn't really want to be here on New Year's Eve, but we took full advantage and went 4-0 up by half time.

"Josh March and Danny Dubidat both scored twice, but in truth they should have got first half hat-tricks, while Ryan Edmunds added the other."

The Church have been boosted with news that former Hereford central defender Jamie Willetts has agreed to remain until the end of the season after turning down an offer from League of Wales side Aberystwyth.

Church will look to consolidate top spot this Saturday when they entertain Brocton, who have moved off the bottom of the league as a result of their victory over Lye Town.

Both Zac Foster and Mark Smith are injury doubts but Ryan Winwood looks set to return.

Long added: "We will treat Brocton with respect, like we treat everyone. Our recent defeat to Boldmere was a shock to the system and the players will be reminded that we don't want a repeat of that."