TIM Flowers stressed the importance of ‘blooding youngsters’ after fielding a youthful side as Alvechurch lost 1-0 against Burton Albion to exit the Birmingham Senior Cup.
A first-half goal from Jack Newall settled the third round tie at Lye Meadow as Church named a number of the club’s youngsters in the matchday squad.
And while Flowers admits some of his young players have a lot to learn, he hopes some youngsters can force their way into his plans following recent departures.
Flowers said: “We had a massive conundrum with a game in 36 hours time, I can’t throw our normal side out, we had a few kids of our own.
“Burton sent a young side, there was no one over 20-years-old. I thought some of our young lads did okay and worked really hard.
“Some of them have got a lot to learn, we’re trying to be a professional environment and we’ve got lads who don’t report injuries, you get that with kids sometimes.
“It’s very important to blood youngsters, I wanted to win but in the end we didn’t do enough to win.
“We need to develop these players to come into the football club going forward and let them off the leash.
“We’ve had a few players go out the door and they should be thinking ‘I wonder if I’ll get a chance’. That’s how they should be thinking, ‘can I force myself into the plans?”
The game’s only goal came on 31 minutes as Newall tapped home a low cross from the right from close range.
Church almost drew level late on only for Jaelon West’s effort to come back off the post.
Alvechurch host AFC Telford United on Saturday, January 25 with kick-off at 3pm at Lye Meadow.
