ALCESTER Town will be looking to maintain their recent intensity on Saturday when they travel to a Barton United side out for revenge, writes Liam Hunt.
Town breezed past local rivals FC Stratford 3-0 on a sunny afternoon at Stratford Road on Saturday – a victory which lifted Alcester above Stratford into fourth position with seven games remaining in Midland League Division Three.
Nick Dance scored his tenth of the season to put Town ahead before half time and the lead was soon doubled by the league’s leading goalscorer Matt Layton who side-footed home a superb cross from Jack Banks.
Defender Chris Hill made it 3-0 from a corner in the second half when he pounced on a rebound to head home, topping off a much-improved performance from Town following two defeats.
Player-manager James Robbins said: “We are looking forward to Saturday’s match. Barton will be looking to get their revenge having beaten them at home back in February but if we play with the same tempo and intensity as we did against FC Stratford we are more than a match for any side in this league.
“The top two is out of reach now but there are 21 points left to play for and we will be looking to pick up as many as possible over the remaining seven games to finish as high up the table as possible.
“We have five of the top eight to play and that gives us the opportunity to take points off those teams around us.”
Alcester captain Mark Briggs faces a fitness test having been substituted with a hamstring strain against FC Stratford and Dance also hopes to be fit after sustaining a swollen ankle.
Steve Nurse suffered a knee injury in the 1-0 loss to league leaders Leamington Hibernian a fortnight ago but is hoping to be fit.
