Knight backs his Bees to sting (From Redditch Advertiser)

Knight backs his Bees to sting

5:35pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Sport

STUDLEY boss Lee Knight is hoping the Bees can start picking up results against the sides around them after concluding a difficult run of fixtures with a 3-1 loss at high-flying Loughborough University.

The Warwickshire outfit put up a spirited fight before three goals in the final 15 minutes.

That ends a testing set of opening matches in the Midland Alliance which has included games against top-six sides Stourport Swifts, Boldmere St Michaels, Tividale, Rocester and Loughborough.

Now they will be hoping to bag their first league win in three weeks when they entertain third from bottom Highgate United on Saturday (3pm ko).

He said: “I had a personal target for where I wanted us to be at this stage of the season and we’re probably six points behind.

“But I cannot fault the lads, we’ve played all of the top-six so far and that has been very tough.

“I am hoping now we’ve got them out of the way we can start accumulating results from the teams around us, although Highgate won’t be easy.”

Knight felt the difference on Saturday was fitness as an impressive Loughborough outfit scored late on.

The manager added: “For 75 minutes we were in the game and created a couple of chances.

“Loughborough were the best side we have played all season but in the end the difference was fitness.

“They’ve got great facilities and must train three or four times a week, I think we’ve barely trained that many times all season because of injuries.”

Studley are hoping the protracted signing of Sutton Coldfield Town striker James Reid will be sealed before the weekend. The centre forward’s arrival has been delayed because of a problem with paperwork but Knight is hoping he will be available for the Highgate clash.