ALVECHURCH play host to high-flying Coalville Town on Saturday but manager Shaun Cunnington is likely to be putting his feet up!

The Lye Meadow boss saw his side earn a 1-1 draw with visitors Stratford Town at the weekend but then checked in at hospital for a back operation which is likely to keep him off football duties for the rest of the month.

Paul Tomlinson has been drafted in as assistant manager and it will be the former Halesowen Harriers and Lye Town player who will take charge for the weekend's game with their top three visitors.

"Paul has a lot of knowledge and is well known around the Black Country," Cunnington explained.

"He knows what I want from the players and we have the same ideas."

The pair worked together for the first time on Saturday when Cunnington thought his players did enough to earn all three points.

Stratford had former Redditch United defender Dennis Mulholland in charge for the first time and they almost opened the scoring after just five minutes when Paul Hunter had an effort cleared off the line.

The visitors did break the deadlock five minutes into the second half with a long-range Paul O'Brien shot but Church levelled two minutes later when Lee Chilton prodded home his first goal for the club.

And it was the Lye Meadow side who had the better of the closing stages with Keith Rostill going close before Wayne Brown forced an excellent save from Stratford's Warren Ayres.

With young winger Jermaine Hollis recalled by Kidderminster Harriers, there was a debut on the right flank for another youngster Adrian Parkes.

Parkes was a teammate of goalscorer Chilton at West Midlands Regional League side Blackheath.

"The pair of them look good prospects," Cunnington added. "They have a great appetite for the game and want to learn."

Church's game with Causeway United at Lye Meadow last night was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.