ALVECHURCH boss Ian Long is looking for a leader on the pitch in the wake of their 4-2 reverse at Biggleswade Town.

Long said: "We need to show more character when things aren't going well.

"We're a very young side and sometimes it shows. We can be very naive and some of the players get very petulant at times.

"We produced some schoolboy defending against Biggleswade and we cannot continue to defend like that.

"What makes it worse was the fact Biggleswade weren't that good, it was 1980's football as Biggleswade just kept hitting balls into areas.

"The fact we went 1-0 down after three minutes didn't do us any favours.

"But we got back into the game just after half time with a goal from Josh March.

"But we didn't carry much threat when we had possession and didn't kick on in the second half when we had the chance".

Long believes the fact their previous game with Stratford Town was called off owing to a waterlogged Lye Meadow didn't help their cause.

He added: "At the time, I thought it might half suit us, because some of the players were carrying niggles. But it meant we hadn't played for two weeks when we travelled to Biggleswade - and it showed."

Church were due to face Halesowen Town this week before entertaining third-placed AFC Rushden on Saturday.

Long has also missed out in his attempts to sign Corby Town player Jordan Francis.