EXCELLENT Alvechurch extended their lead on top of the Midland League with an emphatic 5-1 win over Leicester side St Andrews.

It was Alvechurch's 10th straight league win, yet manager Ian Long was more concerned with the fact they conceded a goal for the first time in six games.

Danny Dubidat led the way with a hat-trick with Ryan Edmunds and substitute Connor Deards also on target.

Deards had made an early entry into the fray after top marksman Josh March was taken to hospital with a head injury.

Alvechurch manager, Ian Long, said: "The injury wasn't in vain as Josh won us a penalty in the process after clashing with the St Andrews goalkeeper.

"Josh is also our designated penalty taker and he tried to grab the ball while he was on the ground and insisted he should take the penalty, but I don't think he really knew what he was doing at the time.

"We took him off to the 'Alex' hospital just as a precaution.

"Danny went onto take the penalty which put us ahead after seven minutes and then went onto score a hat-trick. I was delighted for him because he has been playing extremely well of late.

"I was equally pleased that the goals were spread about. I was becoming a bit concerned that Josh March was getting all the goals to the point where we were becoming a one man show in that department and I didn't want to get to the point where we were relying on his goals too much".

The Church were due to visit Long's former club Tividale this week in a J W Hunt Cup clash.

Church then face a tricky trip to Shepshed on Saturday where Long will be taking nothing for granted.

He said: "Shepshed are in a good run of form at the moment and still in the FA Vase, so we will need to be at our best.

"Although we are top of the table, I still believe that both Lye Town and Westfields are in a better position than us."