Rugby Town 0 Alvechurch 1

The words Alvechurch and miserly defence have rarely been seen together this season but Andy Hibbert's side cast aside their Keegan-esque style of outscoring a porous back line to grind out the most important of away wins.

A fortnight ago the Churchmen were dead in the water after a damaging defeat at Leamington but, like every other side which has gone top this season, The Brakes suffered an attack of the jitters to leave the door open.

Ever the sportsman, Church goalkeeper Mark Sanders tried to do the sporting thing by repeatedly sending hospital balls to his defenders in the opening exchanges but after a few scares the visitors buckled down to ride out the storm.

Rugby's Wayne Pulford had come close with a dipping effort but a defence marshalled by Paul Smith resolutely soaked up the pressure until Church could stabilise.

Keith Rostill was denied by home keeper Ian Brooks in the 20th minute after leaving Darren Tank standing with his turn in the area but he was not delayed for long and scored what proved to be the winner two minutes later.

Liam O'Shea stormed into the right channel and held off Arron Parkinson long enough to square to Rostill who made no mistake in the six yard box.

O'Shea could have doubled the lead after a cross from the imperious Ross Knight came through two defenders to the surprised forward who scooped it over.

The visitors escaped when Martin Thompson got past Smith but opted to send a first time volley well over instead of running through on Sanders' goal.

The second half was a tale of missed chances with O'Shea the chief culprit.

The shaven-headed forward went on a tremendous run from his own half after the break, slaloming past three defenders only to shoot too near Brooks.

Three times O'Shea missed chances to wrap up the game, most notably from a mesmerising disguised Rostill pass nine minutes from time which saw O'Shea beat Brooks only for Parkinson to clear.

Jamie McWilliams was kept out by Brooks two minutes from time but Church were not going to make life easy for themselves or the fans and could have paid the price two minutes into added time when Parkinson rose at the far post to meet a dubiously-awarded Alan Haynes free kick but sent his effort over.