Non-league previews: 'A lot of negativity' at Stourbridge says Liam McDonald

The Glassboys are winless in their last six Southern Central Premier games after a 2-1 loss to Spalding United on Tuesday night.

The defeat saw Stourbridge drop to 11th in the standings and further adrift of the play-offs, and now lingering four points above the drop zone.

Visiting Lowestoft Town of 18th place tomorrow, boss McDonald is sure his side's fortunes will change soon.

“I think we have had an unfortunate moment with injuries, we have had opportunities to win games and then lost, we have had a confidence crisis with certain players.

“There has been a lot of negativity within the football club and it has all happened within these last six games where it has been difficult for the lads to clear their minds, go and enjoy themselves and knowing mistakes can happen and that we can come back from it.

“Everything has been negative on and off the pitch. It is something that the boys are putting right, and I have been in these situations before, I have managed for 12 years. In the six games before the bad run, we were unbeaten.

“I am not looking for excuses but I wonder if we have been victims of our own success in terms of we started the season so well, beat Telford and Redditch and next thing you know is everyone is getting a bit carried away, we did try and stop that from happening but saying it would be an up and down season.

“We haven’t started the second half of the season how we wanted but there are still a lot of points to play for.”

McDonald also highlighted that he has build a young squad, that he said is different to what fans may have previously seen at the club during recent years.

He has asked fans to be united and behind his side, setting out that this is a long-term project for him at the club that he joined last summer. 

“We are building a team and it takes two or three years to build a proper team, and sometimes you have to take steps backwards to move forwards.

“Everybody has to be on board with that.

“We have spent a lot of money as a football club over the years, and it has rewarded us with nothing, now, we don’t have the financial power people think we have. I knew that when I come in.

“Ultimately, it takes a couple of wins and we are right back in it. Very soon we will be winning games and enjoying it.

“We want Stourbridge to be back as a family club, and if a family has issues, you stick by them. We need to support each other through thick and thin and through the tough times. We can’t keep complaining, it is now time to support and try and help us.”

Meanwhile, title contenders Halesowen Town visit AFC Sudbury after a 2-0 win over Stamford midweek that ended their own winless run of three games.

Elsewhere in the National League North, table-toppers Kidderminster Harriers enjoyed a 3-2 win over Scarborough Athletic to reach the league’s summit and host Warrington Town, and Rushall Olympic, who have cut the gap to safety to just three points after three league wins in a row, travel to Spennymoor Town.