JOHN EDWARDS says Studley will be inspired by four simple words when they take on two of their biggest rivals for promotion: Let’s go for it!
Third-placed Studley meet Midland League Division One leaders Leicester Road at the Beehive on Saturday and then head to sixth-placed Atherstone Town on Wednesday.
The Bees head into the contests in positive form, with Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Dudley Town taking them into the Birmingham Midweek Floodlit Challenge Cup semi-finals to follow last weekend’s 4-0 victory at home to Stafford Town.
“We’ve got a couple of big games coming up in the space of five days and we’re looking forward to it,” said joint-boss Edwards.
“Leicester are the team to beat at the moment and Atherstone have been on a great run, including getting to the last 16 of the FA Vase.
“But the lads are up for it. We had the setback when we lost to Burbage but we’ve bounced back with three wins in a row and with three clean sheets.”
Edwards and coach Richard Briggs took on a scouting mission to watch Leicester in Wednesday’s 3-0 victory against GNP Sports and they know Studley will need to be at their very best.
Leicester sit eight points clear of second-placed Brocton, who have a game in hand, and 12 ahead of Studley, who have three matches in hand.
The Bees will be without the unavailable Max Loveridge and injured Lewis Marston, but they have brought back full-back James Wright from Alcester Town after a two-month ‘loan’.
“Leicester Road are a really well-drilled professional side,” said Edwards. “There’s no obvious weak link there.
“But we will be approaching it as we have approached every game. We will go out and give it a right go.
“Defensively we have been sound for most of the season. The defeat to Burbage was something we felt was coming because, regardless of our unbeaten run, the performance levels had dipped. The wins probably papered over the cracks but since then we’ve played a lot better.”
Studley shuffled their ranks on Tuesday at Dudley and Mark Magee put the visitors ahead with a cool finish after a great run by Dale Edwards before Dan Carter settled the contest with a second.
Studley will now entertain Darlaston Town in the semi-finals.
On Saturday, Magee netted twice in the 4-0 home success against basement side Stafford. Carter had headed home the first and Dale Edwards doubled the lead from the penalty spot.
