Alcester need to treat strugglers with complete focus

FOOTBALL

ALCESTER Town joint-bosses Matt Seeley and Richard Briggs say they need to treat their home clash with struggling Leamington Hibernian tomorrow (Saturday) with the same intensity as playing a title rival.

The Red and Blacks felt they proved their credentials last weekend with a victory at one of the likely promotion contenders, defeating Coventry Plumbing.

Victory hoisted Alcester to fourth place in the Midland League Division Three but Seeley stressed they need to keep improving.

After an influx of half-a-dozen new faces in the last few weeks, they want to now build a settled squad to keep tabs with pacesetters Central Ajax, AFC Solihull and Inkberrow.

“This is a new squad now,” said Seeley. “I can’t see us having any more new signings and I’m looking forward to working with this group of players.

“The match at Coventry Plumbing was a good test to see where we were. With a longer period of time to gel I can see us being a real force in this league.”

Alcester, though, will be aware they cannot take anything for granted against second-from-bottom Hibs, who chalked up a 2-1 win against the Red and Blacks in September.

Reece Hewitt is unavailable this weekend while Luke Dugmore, who missed last weekend’s win after having nine stitches in a gashed leg, is rated a 50-50 fitness chance.