DEFENDER Aaron Roberts hopes to pick up his first piece of silverware with Bromsgrove Sporting when they take on Highgate United in the final of the Worcestershire Senior Urn this week.
The Midland League Division One leaders face off against Premier Division counterparts United at Kdderminster Harrier’s Aggborough Stadium on Wednesday in what could be the Rouslers’ first trophy of the season.
The league title as well as the Smedley Crooke Memorial Charity Cup are also up for grabs for Paul Smith’s men.
United had edged the Rouslers to promotion to the MFL Premier Division in 2015 therefore Roberts is expecting a feisty encounter.
“A lot of their lads know a lot of ours so it’s kind of a derby and there’s plenty of spice there as they pipped us to the league title a few years ago,” he said.
“Highgate are a good side and I am sure it will be a quality game but I am confident we can come through.
“As long as I have been with club I am still yet to win anything so the sooner I get the first trophy out the way I am sure there will be more to come.
“It looks like we are on for a treble if all goes well and the lads are all up for it.”
Jason Cowley, Reece Hewitt and Liam Spink are unavailable for the clash having played for Redditch United in the Senior Cup in July last year while Andy Nicol is also ineligible having played in the Urn for Alvechurch.
But with plenty of options available to boss Smith, Roberts is not concerned about missing four first-team regulars.
“We have got 19 good players in the squad which can be rotated,” he added.
“There’s the likes of Tom Craine and Luke Shorthouse who are capable of putting the ball in the back of the net so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Sporting go into their Urn final on the back of Saturday’s emphatic 10-0 league victory over second-from-bottom Pelsall Villa.
Cowley and Nicol both bagged hat-tricks while Spink, Shorthouse, Craine and Sam Wills also got on the scoresheet.
With goals coming from left, right and centre, Roberts was a little bit disappointed to have not scored himself.
“I think everyone in the squad is ruthless in front of goal barring me – it’s about time I netted one,” he joked.
“Pelsall did what most teams do in the first half, they sat deep and made it difficult for us.
“We weren’t quite at it first half but when things opened up in the second half we played some really good stuff and there were some really good goals scored too.
“It was nice to see Nicol and Craine get on the scoresheet because they have not been playing as much as everyone else.”
Sporting currently sit ten points clear of second placed AFC Hinckley, with a game in hand, and are just four wins away from securing promotion.
Having missed out to Coventry United, Highgate and Brocton over the last three years, Roberts believes the success of this campaign has come down to not chasing teams down.
“I think the difference this year is we are the team to be chasing,” he said.
“We have been looking up at teams in recent years and hoping they slip-up but now we have kicked on and opened up a cushion.
“Nothing is certain so we cannot count all our chickens just yet but it is looking promising and we are taking each game as it comes.”
