Rowe: Safety still Peacocks aim (From Halesowen News)

Rowe: Safety still Peacocks aim

8:00pm Friday 11th January 2013 in Football

IAN Rowe says staying in the Midland Alliance is still the main priority for Gornal Athletic.

The Peacocks are enjoying a fine first campaign following their promotion from the West Midlands League Premier Division.

Rowe’s men sit seventh in the table but strong showings in the FA Cup and latterly the FA Vase means they have played only 16 games and would move within a point of leaders Stratford Town if they were to win their eight games in hand.

But the manager has rejected such lofty talk and says survival is still the first aim.

He said: “From our point of view this season was always going to be about consolidation and it still is.

“I know people might think that’s a strange thing to say but it’s where we are at the moment.

“People can talk about this and that in terms of where we might finish but let’s make sure we stay in the league first.

“That is the way forward.”

With so many games to catch up, Rowe has warned his troops to be ready for a frenetic second half to the campaign.

He added: “The players are well aware we will be playing twice a week from now until the end of the season.

“It’s simple really, we just have to keep doing well.”

Despite missing full-back Pete Wood and centre-back Curtis Tilt, Gornal comfortably won 2-0 at Westfields last Saturday.

They next entertain Rocester tomorrow.

Tividale’s frustrating start to 2013 continued with a 3-1 defeat at Dunkirk, in which Adam Hill’s 30th minute dismissal for retaliation proved crucial.

Dean Whitehouse’s side host Kirby Muxloe on Saturday and then go toe-to-toe with rivals Gornal at Packwood Road next Tuesday.