Home double-header a chance for flying start (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Home double-header a chance for flying start

LAST weekend's League Cup triumph was the perfect pick-me-up after last season's disappointment at missing out on promotion, writes Mervyn Collins.

However, a second successive knockout success will count for nothing if Stratford Town fail to make another concerted bid for elevation up the non-league pyramid.

The Masons Road men couldn't have asked for a better start with a brace of home games to get the Travel Factory Alliance campaign under way.

Cradley Town are the visitors on Saturday, while Alvechurch make the same journey to Stratford next Tuesday night when Lennie Derby's side will be hopefully on target for a six-point maximum.

The Town manager is expected to utilise the players who performed so creditable at Willenhall last Saturday although there could be a recall for skipper Nigel Niblett who sat out the final with a calf twinge.

"It's nothing serious but there was no point in risking him and then losing him for even longer," said Derby.

The manager was delighted and a little surprised by the manner of performance that saw off Rushall after extra-time.

"We played well and deserved to win the game," Derby admitted. "We were a lot fitter and that surprised me. Spirits are high and that's good because of the changes that we have made during the summer.

"Fitness and organisation was the key and that shows that our good coaching methods are starting to pay off."

The Town manager is aware that expectations will be high and sees the home double-header as a great chance to get some points on the board.

"We will be expected to win both matches but opening games always throw up one or two surprises and we've got to make sure that we approach the games just like last weekend," Derby admitted.

"Cradley could be something of an unknown quantity, while Alvechurch's young players will have no fear and they will possess a good mixture of experience and youth."

The latter is a quality that Derby witnesses first hand against Rushall and he was highly delighted with the results.

"Jamie Barnes and Dave Nolan have both come out of league club's Academies and it's their first season at this level but both earned their places," said the Masons Road chief.

"Tom Leaver has proved himself in pre-season and his goal was something special and rounded off a great afternoon."

Derby says that there could be up to seven or eight clubs battling it out for honours this season with Leicestershire clubs set to have a huge say in the championship.

"Coalville, Oadby, Barwell and Quorn will all be up there, while Rushall and Stourbridge are likely to be stronger than last term," he declared.

l THE club's Under-15s are on the lookout for new players for the forthcoming campaign.

Any youngsters interested in joining a progressive club are asked to contact Peter Stephens on 01789 731351 or 07957 694473.