Lewis Cox's non-league round up 10-04-15

Harriers salvaged a draw against relegated AFC Telford United, before succumbing to the might of Bristol Rovers on Bank Holiday Monday.

And Whild insisted there is still plenty to look to in the club's remaining three games.

He said: "The three games we've got left (against Welling, Barnet and Eastleigh) all have something left in them for the other side, so we're looking at having an effect on things.

"Welling are scrapping for their lives down there – we need to be right in ourselves to get the result.

"We're expecting a tough game. It has always been tough to go down there – they had an unbeaten home run for two years before their promotion to the Conference Premier.

"There is still the pressure of playing for this football club for these supporters, so to put in a performance and get the result is still what we're asking of them.

"We're safe at the moment, so there's no pressure in that aspect, so it's good to see young lads getting an opportunity to play.

"It is better for them than chucking them in games where the outcome is vital.

"The lads have been credit and it's great to see them out there having a go and gaining valuable experience."

Luke Maxwell, a 17-year-old midfielder was part of the academy's best-ever FA Youth Cup run earlier in the season, was just one of five players included against Rovers that was Under-21.

Maxwell lined-up alongside fellow academy graduates Kennedie Digie and Jordan Harrison against Telford, while George Forsyth was included in the squad for Bristol's visit.

Aman Verma chipped a bone against Telford and is out for the rest of the season. While the trip to Welling may be too soon for midfielder Jack Byrne, forward Craig Reid may be in contention.

Hednesford Town coach Chris Brindley believes the club have lacked luck in the treatment room that is required for a promotion campaign.

He also added that there is no shame for the club to finish seventh or eighth, given the current quality of the Conference North.

Rob Smith's right-hand man said: "We had a bad start, then a brilliant run from 14th to third but ultimately there's been a bad run of form over the last few weeks.

"It's been untimely, of course, but we haven't had that bit of luck. This is a very, very tough league and it's getting ever stronger.

"To go up, you need to have plenty of luck on the injury front and we simply haven't had that.

"We've had two seasons more or less injury-free but, this season, we were picking up constant niggles from the start and, as a club, we didn't really have the resources to deal with them.

"It's easy to slip up at this level if you're not at your very best – you won't get away with winning.

"If we can finish well and secure a seventh or eighth finish, there'll be no shame at all, I still think that would be successful.

Brindley conceded their faint hopes of a play-off spot were over with Bank Holiday Monday's draw at Solihull Moors. The Pitmen had Ben Bailey dismissed before clawing back a late equaliser.

They travel to Lowestoft Town tomorrow (3pm), the Suffolk side enjoying mid-table security during their debut Conference North campaign.

Brindley added: "As with any game, there are players playing for their shirt at the club next season."

Forward Paul Sullivan, who recently returned from a loan spell at Chasetown, pulled up with a thigh strain at Solihull and is the Pitmen's only injury concern.

Halesowen Town chairman Colin Brookes praised boss John Hill and his side for delivering a 'brilliant day' as Hales triumphed in the 'No 9 derby.'

After going an incredible 12 games without victory in the Northern Premier Division, the Yeltz dominated Stourbridge in front of a mammoth crowd of 1,748 – the biggest at the Grove since 1991.

And Brookes believes it has provided the perfect lift for the club, saying: "It was a brilliant day.

"The lads didn't half put a performance in for the club – it could've been a lot more than 2-0.

"That was the worry at half-time when it was 1-0, that we only had the one goal, but getting the second just after half-time made it comfortable.

"You could've put the 10 outfield players into a hat to pick out the man of the match – they were all that good.

"We celebrated at the end like we had won the World Cup. It means the world to everyone connected with the club, it's really sparked things back into life."

The Yeltz travel to Ramsbottom United tomorrow with Aaron Daniels and Ashleigh Granville both missing the trip.

Forwards Ben Haseley and Iyseden Christie came through Monday's fixture unscathed and will be involved.

Stourbridge chief Gary Hackett admits he does feel the pressure of the Glassboys' poor form but is determined to accept responsibility.

Stour's indifferent debut season in the Northern Premier Division was compounded by Bank Holiday Monday's limp performance.

He said: "Monday has happened, I don't want to dwell on it, the better team won on the day. We let ourselves and our supporters down.

"The pressure is on, but we don't walk away from bad times, we face them and look to the future."

Hackett warned tomorrow's visitors Marine, who sit 22nd, will be a huge game. Matt Dodd (thigh) is unavailable.

Rushall Olympic manager Richard Sneekes believes the club have more than exceeded their ambitions this campaign, wherever they finish in the Northern Premier.

A more fluid style of play to make the Pics a more attractive outfit has filled the Dutchman with immense pride this campaign.

Two excellent wins over the Bank Holiday weekend – 2-1 at play-off chasing Skelmersdale and a 6-1 thrashing of Trafford – have seen the Pics cement 10th spot.

He said: "Over the last couple of weeks we've taken the shackles off a bit, moving the ball quicker and playing how we want to play the game.

"We gave someone the hammering we've been threatening to – it was similar to some of the football we were playing before our slump in November.

"The club are growing and it's brilliant to see. We have the academy setting up next year and young Colin Smith scoring against Trafford.

"We must grow as a club, sticking together – the targets have been more than exceeded, particularly in our playing style."

The Pics head to a Buxton side two places and four points better off than Sneekes' men tomorrow.

He added: "They're a very good side, we were brilliant in beating them earlier in the season so they will be up for it."

Stafford Rangers manager Neil Kitching believes his side's ability to 'win ugly' has put them right back into the Evo-Stik First Division South play-off mix, ahead of tomorrow's trip to Brigg Town.

Boro head north to already-relegated basement boys Brigg on the back of a morale-boosting midweek win at Coalville Town.

Jazz Luckie struck with the final kick of the game to send the three points back to Staffordshire.

Kitching said: "What a great finale to the game it was, I thought in the last 10 minutes or so we came into our own, the players realised a draw wasn't good enough.

"You talk about winning ugly, there's spirit in that dressing room, maybe there was a lack of quality tonight but the players have drawn on the spirit to put ourselves right back in this play-off mix.

"A lot of the clubs were looking at this match tonight and hoping Stafford would lose ground and be out of it. Make no mistake, now we're right back in it."

Kitching is keen to see his side take advantage of some huge games between sides gunning for the promotion places this weekend. Nathan Smith and Stan Mugisha are doubtful.

Tividale, despite fears over their ground, have taken seven points from nine from Lincoln United, Sutton Coldfield Town and Mickleover Sports.

And Tivi boss Ian Long believes as long as the club can add quality to their nucleus, they have every chance of improving further next season.

Long said: "I'm just absolutely over the moon, I'm so, so proud of them. I thought maybe with three games in five days against top sides we'd get a bit found out.

"In truth, we were disappointed after Sutton on Monday – we could've won it, but the lads took stock and responded phenomenally."

"Mickleover was the cream of the crop, it was a fabulous moment for us and we've received great plaudits – we were real party-poopers as they could've been champions, but we've guaranteed ourselves a top-10 spot.

"I want us to top 70 points – if someone had offered me that in August I'd have laughed in their face."

The close nature of the three games allowed the Tivi boss to mix up his squad, something they thrive under at the Beeches, due to their tight-knit group.

Long said: "The skipper Rich Huckfield had a break but he joined in the team huddle seconds before kick-off, Mitch Botfield travelled when he knew he wasn't in the squad.

"Leigh Downing, Nigel Penney, Ryan Winwood, Danny Ashton and Charlie Price all had minutes off and the freshen up works brilliantly.

"We want to keep this nucleus, it's a special group and if we can add bits of quality I don't see why we can't challenge those play-offs next season."

Long's men sit eight, 11 points off Gresley in the final play-off spot, on the eve of two difficult games in four games against Carlton Town.

He said: "It's not ideal playing the two games against them so late in season – I've never played there before and we've heard it's a bad pitch up there with not great crowds.

"If we can match the levels from Mickleover then we have nothing to fear."

Nigel Penney (thigh), Mitch Botfield (ankle) and Leigh Downing (work) may miss tomorrow's trip to Carlton.

Sporting Khalsa will take on Lichfield City in the Staffordshire FA Senior Challenge Vase Final next week.

West Midlands League Premier Division champions Khalsa and Midland League Division One outfit City will both be appearing in the final for the first time.

These two teams played each other in the quarter-final of last year's competition, with Lichfield City winning 4-2.

The final will be held at Stafford Rangers' Marston Road ground on Monday at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 for adults or £2 for children-concessions.