Draper: Studley buzzing to be top of the table - The Redditch Standard

Draper: Studley buzzing to be top of the table

Redditch Editorial 28th Oct, 2017   0

BOSS Keith Draper admits it is a nice feeling for Studley to be looking over their shoulders for the right reasons for once.

The Bees, who finished 15th last term and avoided relegation by seven points, currently sit top of the Midland League Division One table after 13 games and are currently on a 12-game unbeaten run.

Having fought hard to retain their Step Six status last term, Draper told the Standard it was great to see the club competing at the top end of the table with much-fancied sides in Walsall Wood, Hinckley AFC, Ilkeston Town, Atherstone Town and Leicester Road, all of whom currently occupy the top six.

And with a trip to 16th-placed Uttoxter Town today (Saturday) before entertaining third-from-bottom Cadbury Athletic on Tuesday night, the Bees boss added his players are feeling no pressure.




“Given how hard we had to fight to survive last season, it is nice for us to be actually looking over our shoulder for the right reasons,” he said.

“We have only lost four times since Christmas so I just want us to keep playing with the same consistency.


“We have been playing some great football and at times we have had to push ourselves over the line but the lads are feeling no pressure whatsoever.

“Under no illusions will Uttoxeter and Cadbury be easy games so we will have to work hard to come away with six points.”

Studley go into this weekend’s fixtures on the back of Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Bolehall Swifts at The Beehive.

Josh Westwood (2) and Lewis Clarke bagged the goals to earn Studley their third successive league win.

“The conditions were really difficult so it could have been one of those games where we slipped up,” said Draper.

“However, we played really well and should have won by more if it had not been for poor finishing.

“But as a spectacle, we dominated the game really well.”

Studley officials are issuing a rallying call to fans to get down to the Beehive to back the team.

Children under five are admitted free to games when accompanied by an adult.

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