PAUL SMITH has urged his players need to perform like they did against title rivals Coventry United if they withstand any chance of walking away with silverware on Wednesday night.
Bromsgrove Sporting take on Midland League Premier Division high-flyers Alvechurch in the final of the Worcestershire Senior Urn on Wednesday night at the Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium – the home of Evesham United – for a 7.45pm kick-off.
Sporting reached the final of the competition following an enthralling and dramatic 6-5 victory over Littleton, while Smith’s former side Alvechurch needed penalties to beat Highgate United in the other semi-final.
Ahead of the titanic clash, Smith will be without Jozsef Jakab (hamstring) but is boosted by the return of Jack Wilson meaning a full squad of 19 is available for Wednesday’s game.
Smith said: “I can’t wait for the game as I have been looking forward to it ever since the day Alvechurch won on penalties.
“It’s very rarely that we go into games as underdogs but this is one of those games.
“They’ve got a huge budget and some fantastic players who have played at two or three levels above so it will be a difficult task for us but I’m confident we have what it takes to win.
“We need a performance like the one we put on show against Coventry United at the Victoria Ground, one like the game away at Lichfield City and away at Hinckley if we are to get something out of the game.
“I always try and make sure we win whatever competition we enter and if we bring our A-game and perhaps catch Alvechurch on a bad day, we can win.”
Sporting go into their cup clash on the back of a 5-2 victory over ten-man Coventry Copsewood on Saturday.
Despite going 1-0 down in the first half, the Rouslers regrouped as three goals from Will Tibbetts, one from Sean Brain and an own-goal secured the win for Smith’s side who maintain their position at the summit of the Midland League Division One table.
“It was one of those games where we had to break them down slowly,” Smith added.
“Even if Copsewood had not been reduced to 10 men, I strongly believe we would have won that game anyway.
“In fairness, we should have won by a bigger scoreline as Reece Hewitt has tried to walk the ball in, Connor Collins missed a couple so could have been eight or nine.
“However, it’s all about winning games of football at the moment and that is what we are doing so I’m pleased with that.”
