Whitbread targets top-three finish after Clee Hill's promising start

Whitbread watched his troops come back from a goal down at half-time to beat AFC Bridgnorth reserves 3-1 at the Knowle Sports Ground on Saturday.

The leveller was a collectors' item as holding midfielder Nick Wilding chested down on the edge of the box before unleashing an unstoppable volley into the top corner.

Oliver Smith pounced at the end of a slick move from back to front, rounding the goalkeeper to net and then sealed the points on the rebound from another Wilding effort that cannoned off the crossbar.

“Their goal was right on half-time and very much against the run of play,” said Whitbread.

“We wasted several opportunities but got the boys in and calmly asked them to keep doing the same things.

“We started the second half on the front foot and Nick’s equaliser was brilliant, it really was a special goal.

“I don’t know what came over him, it all seemed to arrive in one game for him but I was delighted to see him take on some shots because we have encouraged the lads to do that.

“Last season, we probably had 20 or 30 chances a game but having won promotion we know that will be cut back. We are on at the players all the time to get shots off and, thankfully, it paid off.”

On this season’s prospects, Whitbread added: “We want to finish as high as possible and there is a belief we can finish in the top three or four. The challenge is there for the lads if they want it enough.

“It is hard to tell at the moment because we have a different side out every week with holidays and the cricket season still going on.

“That said, some of the lads might have to wait for their chance because we played very well. It is good to have competition for places.”

Clee Hill will be without Adam Uttley (work commitments) and centre-half Dave Shorter (unavailable) for their home clash with Wrockwardine Wood on Saturday (3pm) but Whitbread hopes to have several faces back in contention.