BOSS Brendan Kelly believes Bromsgrove Sporting are entering a critical period of the Southern League Division One Central campaign – and he may change the system up to keep their rivals guessing.
The Rouslers play host to Didcot Town on Saturday following a ten-day break from action and Kelly reiterated the importance of making the Victoria Ground a fortress, especially with league leaders Peterborough Sports coming to town the following Saturday (December 8).
Second-placed Sporting are the only side in the division with a 100 per cent winning record at home and the gaffer wants that to continue but understands it’s going to be difficult.
“We’ve had some good tests at home already this season and we’re under no illusions that Didcot or Peterborough will be easy games,” he said.
“Didcot are a well-established side at this level and are currently mid-table but have plenty of games in hand so they’re going to dangerous.
“As for Peterborough, they’re a very good side, very aggressive in their play and exciting to watch.
“However, we’ve scored 41 goals this season so I’d like to think were exciting to watch too.
“As long as we do everything right at the back, hopefully the wins at home will continue to come.
“Now that we’re about to enter the second set of fixtures it’s important we keep evolving as teams will know how we play.
“I’d like to think we have a surprise element in terms of being able to play in different ways when it is required.”
Sandwiched between the Didcot and Peterborough games will be a Worcestershire Senior Urn semi-final tie on Tuesday night against Victoria Ground tenants Worcester City, who are the ‘home’ team for the clash.
Sporting will have to use the away dressing rooms on this rare occasion but Kelly said this would not affect the players in the slightest.
“The lads are used to the pitch, used to the facilities and used to the crowd so being in the away dressing room will make no difference,” he added.
“It’s not the most prestigious cup to be in but we’re the holders and we’d like to defend the cup.”
Sporting and City had some titanic battles in the Midlands Premier last season, with a bumper crowd of 1,672 witnessing the 3-3 draw on Boxing Day.
Having fallen 3-0 behind just inside the second half, Sporting staged a remarkable comeback to salvage a share of the spoils, thanks to goals from Richard Gregory, Jason Cowley and Liam Holt.
Bromsgrove then won the reverse fixture 2-1 in April in front of a 1,423-strong crowd as they went on their way to securing back-to-back promotions.
