Holtham: Young guns are improving (From Redditch Advertiser)

Holtham: Young guns are improving

4:40pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in Sport

ALVECHURCH boss Dean Holtham feels his young charges are starting to adapt to the Midland Alliance.

The manager watched his youthful side produce a fine result as they edged out high-flying Rocester 1-0 on Saturday.

It ensured they bounced back from their 3-2 home loss to Westfields in the Polymac League Cup last Tuesday.

Holtham has never been worried about his players’ ability, but he was concerned if they could maintain their consistency in the face of the physical demands of a fixture packed league.

“The most pleasing thing at Rocester for me was the clean sheet,” said the manager.

“In terms of standing up and being counted it was one or our best performances.

“We also had a lot of chances but Rocester missed a penalty and we cleared one off the line late on as well.

“The players are adapting to the league and the physical side of the game.

“If you look at the last few weeks they’ve played a lot of matches and last Tuesday against Westfields they were feeling tired.

“They could go back to their youth teams and play five games-a-week but it would not be the same physical challenge as the league and it’s something we’re getting used to.”

Against Rocester, keeper Liam Maher kept the scores level when he made a fine save to deny Jordan Nadat after conceding the penalty.

Jamie Spencer then fired home a well-taken winner after good work by Omari Sterling-James and Nathan Edmunds.

The Churchmen, who saw off in-form Stourport Swifts 2-1 in the Worcestershire Senior Urn, entertain leaders Stratford on Saturday (3pm ko).

Holtham wants his side to continue their good run and get one over Stratford, who they lost to at the start of Holtham’s tenure in August.

He said: “One our best performances in pure football terms was the defeat to Stratford early on.

“I’d like to think we can do that again and keep up our good run.”