ALVECHURCH are on the cusp of winning promotion after pulling off a 3-1 win over Carlton Town at the weekend.

It leaves the Church requiring four points from their remaining three league games to make certain of clinching runners-up spot in Evo-Stik Division One South.

It followed the heartbreak of losing 1-0 to long distance Cleethorpes following a late controversial goal in Lincolnshire last Thursday night.

Impressed manager Ian Long said: "There was no panic stations from the players following the defeat to Cleethorpes, they all remained remarkably calm. They know they are in the driving seat for promotion.

"But it was vital that we bounced straight back at Carlton, yet the players showed no sign of nerves, even when we went 1-0 down at half time.

"I knew the players had got more in them and I was always confident we could pull it back. "Admittedly I had to tear a strip off one or two of them at half time - but within 15 minutes of the second half we were 3-1 up through goals from Ash Carter, Josh March and Luke Yates.

"We had a bit of a scare when the referee awarded Carlton a penalty late in the game, but goalkeeper Paul Evans saved it and then kept out the rebound."

Church are due to visit Market Drayton on Tuesday night before entertaining both Bedworth United on Thursday and then Loughborough Dynamo on Saturday at their Lye Meadow ground.

Long will be eager to get promotion wrapped up before the Loughborough game, he added: "I've told the players just how big the rewards will be. It will mean some big local derbies and big crowds against sides like Halesowen Town, Stourbridge, Stratford and of course, Redditch United.

"We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to win promotion and that means treating our opposition with respect. Nobody is going to roll over for us".

Long admitted his admiration for the players after their long night out in Cleethorpes.

He revealed: "I didn't get back home until 2.15am and I knew it must have take a great deal out of the players, especially after the manner in which we lost.

"The goal wasn't without controversy as Ash Carter went down in our six yard box with a head injury. We tried to tell the referee to stop the game, but he carried on and the ball actually struck Ash while he was on the ground and deflected into the goal.

"We were just three or four minutes away from picking up a vital point and I must admit I was very disappointed by the referee's performance.

"However, we have momentum with us at the moment and I'm hoping that will see us through".

Both Luke Yates and Ash Carter were named in the Evo-Stik Division One South's team of the season.

Yates was also due to feature for Sheffield United's under-23 side at Charlton Athletic this week.