MATT Clarke wants to push for a play-off spot at the end of the season after Redditch United moved top of the table with a 1-0 against local rivals Bromsgrove Sporting.
The Reds lead the Southern League Premier Central table by one point although all four teams in the play-off places below them have at least one game in-hand on Clarke’s side.
However, after Aram Soleman’s goal secured a 1-0 victory against 10-man Sporting, Clarke accepts his side must now push for a top-five finish.
Clarke said: “The objective before the game was to get three points, it was always going to be difficult with a big crowd and a bit of nerves, there was quite a lot on the game for us.
“The prize for winning the game was to be top of the league and we’re all delighted with that.
“They sat in a low block after the sending off and really frustrated us, we were sloppy at times and didn’t move the ball quickly enough but we just said at half time to be patient.
“We didn’t create a load of chances but we knew something would drop for us and thankfully it did and we thoroughly deserved to win the game.
“We knew the importance of the game, at the start of the season we’re not a team classed as title contenders or even play-off contenders even though we’ve progressed over the last three years.
“We had an opportunity to make a statement and we’ve done that, we’re not getting carried away, we want to try and push to get a play-off place given the position we’re in now.
“We know there’s a lot of work to do, we’ve got a very level-headed group who work really hard for each other and want to achieve things.”
Redditch are next in action away at Stourport Swifts on Tuesday, January 23 in the quarter-finals of the Worcestershire Senior Cup with kick-off at 7.45pm at Walshes Meadow.
