Rushall Olympic ‘must be at best to keep hopes alive’

The pics are currently fifth in the Southern Central Premier and travel to mid-table Barwell tomorrow.

The Leicestershire club are unbeaten in their last three fixtures and McDonald is looking for a top notch performance to keep the momentum swinging their way.

“With Tuesday’s game postponed, we’ve had a full week to prepare for our trip to Barwell,” he said.

“We know that we’re going to have to put in another good performance to get anything against an in-form side.

“We want to stay in the play-off places for another week and to be able to do that we’re going to have to be bang at it.

“If we can add to our points tally, it will set us up nicely for our next home game.”

Elsewhere in the league, mid-table Hednesford Town welcome second-placed Bromsgrove Sporting in their first game since announcing two local businessmen were taking over ownership of the club.

League rivals Stourbridge are at home to second-bottom Alvechurch.

Meanwhile, Stafford Rangers manager Alex Meechan is relying on team spirit to continue the club’s new-found form as they battle to stave off relegation from the Northern Premier League.

Sitting bottom of the league, they travel to Whitby Town tomorrow and are looking to build on a run of seven games without a loss in all competitions.

“It’s important that the fans still believe and don’t give up because I think they’re seeing signs of improvement,” Meechan said. “That comes with the consistency of the squad that we’ve got.

“Any team at the bottom of the league will have to rely on team spirit and that momentum. That’s what we have in abundance.

“I say it all the time, the characters we have in the dressing room – they’re all trying to turn the club’s fortunes around.

“We know that we will do it, it’s just making sure that in those four walls we keep it as close and keep strong together as a unit. Scoring more goals is the biggest factor.

“We’re in the top seven or eight - or nine ten - for the goals we’ve conceded.

“For a team at the bottom of the league that’s a bit silly, but we haven’t scored anywhere near enough goals.

“That’s the biggest factor, the game is all about scoring goals.

“We’ve got one or two knocks, like we have had every week this season.

“We’ll re-assess on Thursday before we make the long journey up on Saturday morning.

“We need everyone to believe and get behind the lads and make sure that it’s another game where we can tick a box and get three points.”

In the Southern Central Division One, Halesowen Town host Biggleswade, while struggling Chasetown travel to Spalding United in the Northern South East Division – in what will be new manager Mark Swann’s first game in charge.

Kidderminster Harriers are away to Gateshead in the National League North.