Break boosts Pitmen's challenge

Hednesford Town's Rob Smith has praised the efforts of his squad in the run-up to Christmas and reckons their first free midweek for over a month will give his players a well deserved chance to recouperate ahead of Saturday's trip to Frickley Athletic, writes Chris Brewerton.

The Pitmen's manager says his squad showed outstanding character to beat league leaders North Ferriby United and then record their first ever win over FC United of Manchester last Saturday. The victories cut the gap at the top of the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division to just one point and Smith reckons the short break will help his high-flying team ahead their busy Christmas schedule.

Smith, whose side are looking to preserve their unbeaten ten match run and could go top for the first time this season at the weekend if North Ferriby slip up again, said: "The squad have performed superbly over the last month and this week is a great time to recharge the batteries. It has been a hectic schedule so it's nice for the lads to have a rest, mentally as well as well as physically.'

The Pitmen enter the festive period in a strong position and their next five fixtures, including two local derbies at Stafford Rangers on Boxing Day and home to Rushall Olympic on New Years Day, are against teams currently in the bottom half of the league.

Smith stressed though that there are no easy games in the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division and pointed to Hednesford's 3-3 draw away at struggling Stocksbridge Park Steels in November as evidence to prove his point.

He insisted: "All games in this league bring their own challenges, different pitches, local derbies and teams scrapping for points. I honestly believe the games against the bottom sides are as hard as the ones against the top sides."