UNSUNG hero Aaron Lloyd provided Alvechurch with a last gasp winner as the men from Lye Meadow pulled off a slender 1-0 success over Rushall Olympic.

The result stretches Church's unbeaten league run to five games while conceding just one goal in the process.

Lloyd pounced on a belated Tom Turton free kick in the 94th minute to seal a 1-0 win as Church continue to defy the odds by moving back into the Southern League Central Premier Division play-off places.

Church boss Ian Long couldn't hide his delight and confirmed: "When Aaron scored, I made a fool of myself by running onto the pitch and promptly fell over the mud! But I didn't care, I think I did a little dance with my assistant Richard Colwell.

"We didn't play well and to be honest, we were second best for large parts of the game.

"Rushall posed a big physical threat and tried to bombard us with balls into the box from set piece play.

"Whether it was throws, corners or free kicks, they loaded the box and we had to ride our luck a bit at times.

"Normally, we have to play well to win matches at this level, but this time we had to win ugly, but we got the three points and that's what mattered".

Long also heaped praise on striker Lloyd and said: "He played a big part for us when winning promotion last season.

"He's good in both boxes and doesn't shirk his duties in defence.

"Aaron does a lot for the team, a great deal of which goes unnoticed by the supporters, but he's one of those players you really miss when he's not there.

"We win more games when Aaron plays in the side and he provides a platform for the other players to play off him".

The Church were due to entertain long distance visitors Leiston this week before heading to play-off rivals Kings Lynn on Saturday.

Long was able to recall Jamie Willetts into the heart of his defence, having recovered from minor surgery, to replace the suspended Ash Carter , who also misses the next two games.

Busy Long has also sent goalkeeper Charlie Price out on loan to Gresley Rovers while Theo Llewellyn has gone out to Romulus, both to get games.

Luke Yates is also on loan at Wolves Casuals but Long insists they all continue to figure in his plans.

He added: "We're hanging in there. After three successive defeats people thought we would fade away this season but we'll continue to keep pressing".