BROMSGROVE Sporting are certainly on a high after last Saturday’s crucial 2-1 victory over title rivals AFC Hinckley but they’ll need to keep their feet firmly on the ground to overcome fellow promotion hopefuls Leicester Road.
The Rouslers welcome third-placed Road to the Victoria Ground tomorrow (Saturday) hoping to extend their unbeaten league run to 21 games and firmly cement their position at the top of Midland League Division One.
And with second placed Atherstone Town entertaining Hinckley this weekend, Paul Smith’s men have a good opportunity to put some space between themselves and their title rivals.
In what must arguably be the biggest month of fixtures in Sporting’s history, there is no doubting their riding the crest of the confidence wave especially after booking their place in the last 16 of the Buildbase FA Vase as well as bringing an end to Hinckley’s unbeaten home record.
Then there’s the fact Sporting are the highest ranked non-league side yet to lose a league game this season – this coming after Evo-Stik Division One South & West leaders Hereford slumped to a 2-1 home defeat to Taunton Town and Eastern Counties League outfit Gorleston were emphatically beaten 8-2 by Newmarket Town.
However, one thing Smith has always maintained is his players must ignore all the statistics, the comments and the hype and do their business on the pitch.
Throughout this season, barring the odd game here and there, Sporting have done the business and they will have to be on their game once again to overcome a Road side who will be looking to bring an end to their three-game losing streak away from home as well as end the Rouslers’ unblemished league record.
As well as that, Road will be wanting to boost their own chances of promotion and move level on points with Sporting (50) having played the same amount of games (21).
But with a bumper crowd expected at the Victora Ground to watch these two top sides battle it out, Bromsgrove is bouncing and there’s no doubting the Rouslers have what it takes to secure a vital three points just a week before their highly-anticipated home game against Bristol Manor Farm in the last 16 of the FA Vase.
Sporting’s front man Jason Cowley is certainly going to be the one to watch as his impressive 17 goals in 19 appearances since joining from Redditch United has gone a long way to the club’s success on the field.
Therefore, Road’s defence will have to keep him quiet if they withstand any hope of walking away with a positive result.
Follow all the action with Craig Gibbons from the Bromsgrove Standard Twitter account (@BromStandard) from 2.30pm.
