Promotion race wide open for Yates

Kidderminster boss Mark Yates is wholly in agreement that the race for promotion in the Blue Square Premier this season will go down to the wire.

Yates has led his side into ninth place with nine games played, although it has been their recent form that has given the most cause for optimism, with four wins and a draw from their last six games.

Home wins over Torquay, Rushden and Oxford for the Harriers signal that trio might not be the mighty forces they are tipped to be, leaving Yates to believe the sky is the limit for his side if they apply themselves.

He said: "If we carry on putting the hard work in, where and when it matters, we will be right in the mix. The players have got the ability. As long as we don't get carried away, we will do well. We are young, but I don't see that as a problem.

"Without a doubt, the top of the league will be very close this season. There will be no runaway champions this year, I honestly believe that. Whoever said that before must have nicked the quote from me!

"The top of the table is changing week by week, as it will do at this stage of season, and that could be the way it goes throughout the season. There are a lot of good sides in this league that are in with a shout of challenging - and I include ourselves in that."