UNLUCKY Alvechurch lost interest in this season's FA Cup contest after snatching defeat from the jaws of victory when going down 2-1 at Northern Premier League side Buxton Town.

Alvechurch took the lead on ten minutes through Danny Dubidat and held onto that advantage until the 87th minute when Buxton levelled through Ricky Ravenhill.

Worse was to follow when Sam Smith scored a dramatic 95th minute winner to seal the tie for higher level Buxton leaving Alvechurch boss Ian Long distraught.

Long admitted: "To be winning the game with just three minutes to go and then end up losing is hard to take. In fact it was devastating.

"I was really disappointed we didn't get something from the game because we deserved to.

"Buxton had started running out of ideas but it was vital we got that second goal and we had the chances to do that.

"If we'd got a second goal, I could have seen the crowd turning against Buxton. But instead we conceded two goals, both of which were poor goals to concede.

"Their equaliser came from a defensive mix-up. We had three chances to clear and didn't. Then they went and scored from a set-piece.

"It was difficult to blame the players because they'd given me everything and there was little I could say to them after the game.

"The big test will be how we bounce back from this. I'm looking for the players to show big character and big hearts. We need to start winning games again.

"I can't remember the last time I've lost two games on the trot. We've lost a game in which we were three minutes away from winning and it's now down to everyone at the club how we react."

Alvechurch are on FA Trophy duty this Saturday when they travel to Belper Town.