Express & Star

Needham Market 0 Stourbridge 0 - Report

Boss Gary Hackett reflected on the positives as Stourbridge all but sealed a Southern Central play-off place courtesy of a 0-0 draw at Needham Market.

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The hosts twice hit the woodwork through Adam Mills and had the better of the second-half chances, although the Glassboys had held the edge before the break with Aris Christophorou firing narrowly wide and Kaiman Anderson seeing his effort cleared off the line.

But with play-off rivals Stratford and King’s Lynn losing, a point still marginally boosted Stour’s cushion in the second spot that carries with it home advantage in the first two rounds of the end-of-season shootout.

“Our form on the road has not been that good so while we could have been a bit more clinical we will take that,” said Hackett. “It near enough guarantees us a play-off spot and we have a three-point lead in second place so the next four games will be vital for us.

“Home advantage in the play-offs is important and that is what we will be striving for. Alvechurch got a bit closer to us this weekend but Stratford and King’s Lynn were both beaten and we weren’t so it was a point gained from a tough place to visit.

“We are not playing as well as we can but are hanging in there and picking up points. We are not getting carried away or thinking we are on top of our game but we have to put things in perspective and look to close things out as strongly as we can over these final four games.”