RICHARD Bradley has told his table-topping Stourbridge side not to take their foot off the gas when they host Worcester this Saturday.

Stour are coming off the back of one of their best results of the season, after a dominant performance at Astwood Bank was rewarded with a winning draw.

The visitors by contrast have been struggling for consistency but though they sit ninth in Worcester League Division One, Bradley believes they will still pose a significant threat.

He said: “They are always a tough team to beat and on top of that, they have a couple of players who can really punish you if they are on form.

“We won’t be taking anything for granted, it’s still very early in the season.

“Worcester would only need a couple of wins to get right back into it but if we can beat them on Saturday, it should have them looking over their shoulders.”

Stour will fancy their chances if they can replicate their form from the game at Astwood Bank. Though Stour didn’t quite get the win, the 17 points gained was a significant haul away at a side expected to challenge for the title this term.

After Josh Banks (83) and Steve Game (71) had helped Stour compile 282-8, their bowlers set about the home side with relish.

They dismissed home skipper Steve Adshead - described by Bradley as “the best player in the league” cheaply - and at one stage had Bank reeling at 35-5.

Though they couldn’t keep up the pressure as Bank eventually reached 180-7, Bradley was more than pleased with the showing, which maintained Stour’s lead of 24 points at the top.

He said: “We would have gladly taken the winning draw before the game.

“Steve Adshead is the kind of player who can beat you by himself. It was a shame we couldn’t quite get the win in the end but in many respects it was a big game and we came out of it pretty well.

“We still have a nice lead at the top but you’ve got to expect teams to go on a run at some stage so we have to keep fighting.”

Game is the only absentee for the visit of Worcester, meaning a recall for Alex Bingham.

The young batsman responded to losing his place in the firsts by smacking a superb 110 not out for the seconds last weekend.

Bradley added: “I know Alex was disappointed to be left out as he started the season as a regular - he responded in exactly the right way.”

n Stourbridge second XI were at home to Astwood Bank and won easily as skipper Feraz Irfan bamboozled six of the opposition batsmen with his spin. Alex Bingham also smashed a century off the bowling.

After Astwood Bank decided to bat first, the home side took advantage with Kalpesh Patel bowling opener Michael Desmond with the score on nine. After the early setback only Christopher Perkins showed any grit with a stubborn 63, as Irfan took six wickets to dismiss the visitors for just 192 in the 44th over.

In Stour’s reply Astwood had no answer to the superb hitting of Bingham, who cracked an unbeaten 110 as the hosts won by five wickets with overs to spare.

There was also a comfortable win for the thirds, who hammered Cleobury Mortimer by 88 runs.

After Stour made 183 batting first, Ben Green took four wickets as the hosts were skittled for just 95. There was also a win for the fourths.