BROMSGROVE Sporting manager Paul Smith believes the next four days will go a long way to deciding the Midland Football League Division One title race.
Highgate United currently lead the way with a four point cushion over Bolehall Swifts, while third placed Bromsgrove trail by six points with a game in hand.
But that looks set to change as Bolehall travel to Highgate tomorrow (Saturday) before hosting The Rouslers on Tuesday evening.
Smith described it as a “massive” week for Sporting who take on Lichfield City tomorrow and said it was vital his side took maximum points from their next two games.
“I think this coming week will go a long way to telling you who is going to win the title because Bolehall are at Highgate on Saturday and then we are at Bolehall,” Smith said. “For me it is a three horse race now and those two fixtures will be pivotal in the say for the title.
“I am just pleased that we are going to go into it on the back of good form having won the last six games and on the back of having a full compliment of players to choose from.”
The Bromsgrove boss admitted he felt his side’s title challenge was all but over when they lost to Hinckley last month, but with five games left, Smith now believes they have still got a chance of securing promotion.
“We had a period of five games which we took just five points from,” he said. “Everyone said that at some stage we would have a bit of a blip as most sides do and that was it, so it has been tremendous how we have managed to get the confidence back in the side and get six wins on the bounce.
“Highgate are having a small blip themselves having drawn two of their last three, so we have closed the gap and it’s made things a bit more interesting.
“If we win our game in hand we will only be three points behind with a superior goal difference, so there is still a chance with five games to go.
“We are all excited and we are ready to give it our best shot.”
Sporting’s 6-0 victory over Stafford Town on Tuesday also saw them become the first side to reach the 100-goals mark and Smith said he was confident his side could add to their tally.
“We are very fortunate in the goal-scoring department,” he added. “Sean Brain has played the last two games with Josh (McKenzie), but previous to that Josh played up front with Chrisi Conway and we have still got Joszef (Jakab) to come into the mix.
“We have got four very good strikers and with some big games coming up, it is nice to have those sorts of players playing well.”
TITLE RACE
Highgate United (34p, 77pts, 52gd)
Sat, April 18 – Bolehall Swifts (H)
Tues, April 21 – Studley (A)
Sat, April 25 – Stafford Town (H)
Tues, April 28 – Coventry Copeswood (A)
Bolehall Swifts (34p, 73pts, 58gd)
Sat, April 18 – Highgate United (A)
Tues, April 21 – Bromsgrove Sporting (H)
Sat, April 25 – Coventry Copeswood (H)
Thurs, April 30 – Southam United (A)
Bromsgrove Sporting (33p, 71pts, 62gd)
Sat, April 18 – Lichfield City (H)
Tues, April 21 – Bolehall Swifts (A)
Sat, April 25 – Racing Club Warwick (A)
Tues, April 28 – Atherstone Town (A)
Sat, May 2 – Nuneaton Griff (H)
