LYE Town boss Martin Thomas was left to rue missed chances against title rivals Alvechurch last Saturday.

In front of a bumper crowd, Church staged a late show with goals from Connor Deards and Mike Wardle before Lye hit back with a last gasp Ben Billingham penalty.

Thomas said: "We could have been three up before we even got going.

"Two big opportunities saw Ben Billingham have a chance saved with only the keeper to beat and Remone Stephens had an effort cleared off the line.

"They scored a good first goal but it meant that we pushed hard to get one back and left ourselves open at the back.

"It was all about taking your chances. They had two chances in the second half and took them both."

Thomas is still hoping striker Ryan Rowe could return to the club this week.

Lye are keeping tabs on the Leamington forward to see if there's a chance he'll be available to make a Stourbridge Road return.

He was a star performer for the club at the end of last season before moving on in the summer.

"We are waiting to see if we can get him in by the weekend," said Thomas. "If it doesn't happen by Saturday I don't think it will happen at all."

Lye will welcome another title challenger in the form of Coleshill Town this Saturday (3pm kick-off).

"We had already beaten Alvechurch before we played them and we have done the same with Coleshill," added the boss.

"If we don't win the league it won't be because of these games because it'll just be honours even. It will be because of other games when we have dropped points.

"We won't dwell on the Alvechurch defeat now and will move on quickly, like we have done all season."