Alvechurch 1

Rocester 1

ALVECHURCH took a giant step in their mini revival by securing a super point against Midland Alliance high-fliers Rocester at Lye Meadow on Saturday.

In a performance that joint managers Neil Bryan and Andy Hibbert both described as '100 times better' than previous performances this season, Ben Usher's 33rd-minute header gave the home side the lead after good work from Jamie Fisher down the left-hand flank.

Second-placed Rocester equalised through Paul McMahon with 20 minutes remaining but the result was all-the-more encouraging for Alvechurch after Brett Fitzpatrick (unavailable), Jamie McWilliams (thigh) and Mitchell Lester (hamstring) were all ruled out on the morning of the game.

"We're not getting carried away but that result was really encouraging for us - a 100 times better," said Bryan who handed a debut to Redditch United loan man Callum Gittings at right back. "We're now getting the right response from the players who are all stepping up their game."

Usher had only passed a fitness test just hours before the game, in which, Alvechurch 'keeper Andy Harper was forced to make a hat-trick of great saves.

Alvechurch will now hope to get their players fit for Saturday's trip to Stourbridge although Lester is likely to be out for the next few weeks and Keith Rostill (knee) will see a specialist this week.

Before that, Church will take on Coventry Marconi in the Tony Allden charity cup match tonight (Wednesday, 7.45pm) at Lye Meadow.