Tividale boss Dave King sure there is more to come

The Packwood Road outfit are 17th in the standings, nine points clear of the drop zone and on course to preserve their Premier Division status, and boss Dave King has declared himself ‘satisfied’ with their progress following last season’s promotion.

“It has been every bit as difficult as I expected,” said King. “This is a very strong league and it’s a big step up from the West Midlands League.

“Eight times out of 10, the team that gets promoted from step six goes straight back down, while the teams that go up from the Midland League tend to stay up. That shows you the quality of the sides in this league.

“I would have liked to have more points on the board, but I do think we are better than our current league position suggests. “Tomorrow sees us reach the halfway point and hopefully we climb up the table during the second half of the season. If I had to give a half-term report I would say satisfied, but there is more to come.”

Three points tomorrow would lift Tividale above their visitors and end a disappointing little run.

“We have lost the last three league games and we have hit one of those patches where nothing seems to be going for us,” added King.

“We are competing in every game we play, but get caught by a sucker punch.

“That’s just the way things are going at the moment and that happens in football.

“It was easy last season when we were winning games week in, week out and everything was rosy. That’s not the case now and it’s time for everyone, myself included, to stand up and be counted.”

King, who has been boosted by Darragh Bustin’s decision to turn down a move to Redditch United, is hoping to complete a move for former Bilston Town striker Ryan Booth in time for tomorrow’s clash.

But there has been one departure from the club, with full-back Lewis Probert agreeing a switch to Lye Town.

Probert will be hoping to make his debut when Lye, who are one place below Tividale, host Gresely.

At the other end of the table, Sporting Khalsa will be looking to maintain the pressure on the top two when they welcome basement boys Selston.

Khalsa are four points behind leaders Newark Flowserve, with a game in hand, and just one adrift of second-placed Coventry United having played two games fewer.

Walsall Wood are another side with designs on promotion.

They travel to face a Romulus side sitting two places above them in fifth. But Wood have at least two games in hand on all the sides above them.

Mid-table AFC Wulfrunians are on their travels as they head to Racing Club Warwick.