CAPTAIN Steve Adshead says Astwood Bank must build on the solid foundations the club built in the Birmingham League Division Three last season to make a play for promotion this summer.

After securing their place in the league last season, the 2013 Worcestershire League champions are now aiming high this year.

With two teams promoted and four teams relegated, Division Three remains the most precarious level of the Birmingham League and Adshead would love to cement Astwood's medium position by securing a place in Division Two.

Last season, Astwood went into the league newly-promoted and recovered well from a poor start to win five or their last six games to seal a mid-table spot and give them some momentum and self-belief for 2015.

Adshead commented: "We've got to be ambitious and go for promotion.

"Division Three is a very hard division, even if you are mid-table you can be looking over your shoulder at the relegation spots.

"So if we could get into Division Two that would be a lot more stability for the club.

"We made a horrific start last season but ended it very well. Apart from Sutton, who were the best team in the division, we were a match for anybody."

Bank have lost the services of experienced batsman Brandon Miller, who has returned to former club Studley.

South African all-rounder Matt McDonald has joined the club, while Adshead is hoping some of the club's promising youngsters make their mark this season.

He said: "Studley made Brandon an offer he couldn't refuse so we'll miss him but we do have a lot of younger guys coming through.

"Senior players like myself, Pete Alexander and Jon Summers are still here and while we can't go on forever, the youngsters are coming through and coming into an experienced side.

"But likes of Ryan Blakemore, who opened the batting aged 14, and Joel Haslam and Mike Desmond will all get a chance to do well.

"Matt is someone who wants come over here, work hard and play cricket and he'll being a different perspective."

Astwood, who comfortably defeated Pedmore in their first warm-up game of the summer on Saturday, go to Worcester Nomads this weekend (noon start) in their second friendly.

They commence the league on April 25 with a tricky test at relegated Whitchurch.