ALVECHURCH lost interest in this season's FA Vase after suffering a 2-1 reverse against Midland League rivals Sporting Khalsa in front of a bumper Lye Meadow crowd.

A solitary second half strike from Jamie Spencer wasn't enough to save the Church and boss Ian Long admitted: "We should have been 3-0 up before Sporting Khalsa even scored. We managed to miss four clear cut chances throughout the game and then made mistakes at the back.

"Quite simply we weren't good enough top or bottom end of the pitch.

"It was an extremely disappointing performance and the only positive to come out of it is the fact we can now concentrate on the league."

The Church still sit in top spot but only on goal difference from Lye Town, who together with Westfields have games in hand.

Long said: "I keep telling everyone we're in a false position at the moment even though we are top. We still have a great deal of ground to make up following our poor start to the season."

The Church travel to Rocester this Saturday in a Midland League fixture and then entertain title rivals Westfields on Tuesday night in a League Cup clash.

Long added: " Rocester come into the game on the back of a heavy FA Vase defeat to Hucknall and will be desperate to bounce back. I expect a tough physical challenge."

Church can welcome back Danny Dubidat and Babucar Sauane who were both cup-tied for the Sporting Khalsa game while Mark Smith has now recovered from injury.