IT’S been a frustrating time for Alvechurch boss Ross Thorpe since the turn of the year.

His side have been without a game in the Midland Alliance since December 28 defeat at Coventry Sphinx with the last four games, including Saturday’s scheduled home fixture with Quorn, falling foul of the weather.

Nonetheless Thorpe feels it’s a level playing field with all the sides in the league being in the same boat and he is hopeful this Saturday’s trip to improving Heather St John’s will go ahead.

He said: “Having looked at our fixtures until the end of the season, we only have three midweek games scheduled and to be fair up until Christmas we had been quite lucky and not been affected.

“The good thing is it has given players time to get over the sort of niggling injuries you pick up. Mark Bandurak (knee) and Chris Hughes (ankle) have both been struggling and Jack Cresswell has been suffering from a sickness bug.”

Thorpe has his eyes fixed on what he calls the magical 45-point barrier which would almost certainly guarantee Alvechurch’s place in the Alliance for another season.

Two players who will not feature at Heather are defender Kyle Morrison, who has a Birmingham County Under 18 commitment, and midfielder Max Loveridge, who this week joined Calor Southern League Premier Division neighbours Redditch United.

Alvechurch are looking to increase their junior set-up.

The club currently has teams in six age groups for boys but nothing for girls.

Anyone interested in getting involved, whether it be players or coaches, can e-mail rossthorpe@live.co.uk for more details.