TABLE toppers Alvechurch left it until the last minute to claw a 1-0 win out of nine man Coventry United in the Midland Alliance Premier.

New Church signing from Hereford Jamie Willetts saved the day when he struck the only goal of the game in the 92nd minute to seal victory.

Central defender Willetts was pushed up front in the closing stages and looked set to score when he headed Ryan Winwood's pin-point cross against the Coventry crossbar.

Willetts was then first to react, smashing home the rebound, much to Church's relief.

Church boss Ian Long insisted: "We've got to learn from this game. Coventry had Jean Dakouri dismissed on the hour and packed their defence as a result.

"We tried to force things instead of making the pitch big and struggled as Coventry began to run down the clock. It didn't make much difference when Pierre Moudime was also sent off on 88 minutes because Coventry were making the pitch very narrow.

"We'll be working on this in training because we can expect more of it."

The Church travel to Brocton on Saturday in a classic top against bottom clash.

Long will not be taking the contest lightly, he said: "It's a potential banana skin. But with Westfields slipping up again, we have to take advantage and put pressure on them as they still have six games in hand."