BROMSGROVE Sporting boss Paul Smith has admitted he’s got a few selection headaches before he takes his table-topping side to title rivals Lichfield City this weekend.
Sporting, who currently lead the way in Midland League Division One and are unbeaten after ten games, travel to The McDonalds Community Stadium on Saturday for a mouth-watering clash against second placed City.
After coming through tough tests against the likes of Hinckley AFC and Nuneaton Griff earlier in the season, Rouslers boss Smith is hopeful his side can keep up their impressive start to the season.
And with only Luke Edwards (suspended) missing for the game, Smith says he’s got a tough task to choose his starting line-up.
“I’m going to be having everybody available for the game at Lichfield which has left me with a few selection headaches,” he said.
“I’ve got a squad of 19 and it’s going to be a tough task to whittle that down to 16 as we’re playing very well and nobody is playing badly.
“Then it’s going to be an even tougher task getting that down to my starting 11 but I’ve always said the quality of this squad is the best in the league.
“I don’t believe there’s a group better than what we have so it’s important the players who start do their jobs and do it well to get a positive result.”
Sporting go into their crunch clash at Lichfield on the back of yesterday’s (Tuesday) penalty shoot-out victory over Bewdley Town in the Worcestershire FA Senior Urn quarter-finals.
Sean Brain and Luke Edwards put the visitors 2-0 up by the hour mark before two late goals from the hosts sent the tie to spot-kicks, which Sporting won 3-2.
And following their 5-3 after extra-time FA Vase first round win over Cadbury Athletic on Saturday, Smith said the game at Bewdley was all about resting players and giving other much-needed minutes.
“We controlled the game at Bewdley for about 80 minutes and never looked in any trouble but it went from comfortable to a bit hairy towards the end,” he added.
“It was a tough game on the back our Vase win and prior to our league game at Lichfield but the squad got through it as I rested some players and gave minutes to players that needed them.”
Meanwhile, Sporting have been handed a home draw against Lichfield in the second round of the Vase, scheduled for Saturday November 12.
But with Worcester City, who share the Victoria Ground, at home on the same day, Sporting’s game is set to be moved to either the Friday or Sunday of that weekend.
Dale Edwards has also left the Rouslers to Midland League Premier Division outfit Highate United.
