Robbins warns over Town threat (From Cotswold Journal)

Robbins warns over Town threat

11:10am Thursday 14th March 2013 in Sport

LITTLETON boss Andy Robbins expects Pershore Town to give his table-topping side the toughest challenge yet in their promotion quest.

The Midland Football Combination Premier Division rivals go head-to-head at Pebworth Road on Saturday (3pm) in an eagerly-anticipated local derby.

Littleton want to pull further clear at the summit where they already have a two-point cushion over another Worcestershire side Bromsgrove Sporting and five games in hand.

Pershore are 13th in the standings with five wins from 26 league fixtures but will be keen to wrestle the bragging rights from their neighbours.

Robbins said: “I always look forward to playing Pershore.

“Gary Aldington (manager) is a mate of mine. He’s done a brilliant job of sorting them out and getting them going with a few new players.

“They will give us our toughest test of the year. I will explain the situation to the players that it’s a local derby with a lot of pride at stake and Pershore will be here to spoil the party.

“We will give them the respect they deserve and know how hard it will be.

“But we are the in-form team at the moment and if we are going to win the league these are the teams we need to beat.”

Littleton, who saw off fellow high-fliers Nuneaton Griff 3-0 last Wednesday, expect their pitch to be ready despite seeing last weekend’s match against Pelsall Villa called off. They will have striker Joe Lolley in their ranks fresh from scoring twice in England Universities’ 4-0 win over Wales.

Pershore, who lost 1-0 to a Lolley strike at King George V Playing Fields in August, expect to have several players back in contention after they missed last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Nuneaton Griff.

Striker Phil Marsh, right-back Danny James and keeper Matt Davis were all unavailable due to other commitments but should return.

Manager Aldington said: “Littleton are doing very well but we have picked up a lot of late so it should be a good game.”