Stourbridge boss Gary Hackett has called for improvement ahead of Bradford Park Avenue clash

The Glassboys travel to National League North outfit Bradford Park Avenue in the third qualifying round on Saturday but go into the tough contest on the back of a disappointing defeat at promotion rivals Shaw Lane.

Stour lost 3-1 away last Saturday despite Luke Benbow's fourth goal since returning the Amblecote and drop to eighth in the Northern Premier League.

Hackett said: "Against Shaw Lane we just weren't good enough and were just poor individually.

"We were missing a lot of our real pace and power with the likes of Kennedy Digie, Matt Dodd, Aaron Forde and Stuart Pierpoint all out, but we still have some good players that know in themselves they can do more.

"The game could have been different if a few big decisions had gone our way, but that aside we have then given a poor penalty away.

"We will need to be much better against a good Bradford Park Avenue side.

"We do have a good record against Conference clubs and anything can happen in the trophy but we will need to cut out the individual errors first."

Hackett admits it has been a difficult time recently as he continues to have to shift his team around to accommodate for injuries and suspensions.

He added: "It's no surprise that our best spell came when we had a front three of Matt Dodd, Devarn Green and Jordan Archer. Two of them have moved on and one hasn't been able to feature with injury.

"It's not an excuse, it's just stating facts. We have had to move players around a lot and haven't had as settled a side as we'd like.

"Luke Shearer has done well for us though and we still have some very good players here that know they can do more."

The Glassboys will, however, be handed a big boost with the return of experienced duo Aaron Forde and defender Stuart Pierpoint for the Trophy clash.

Key winger Matt Dodd is also edging ever closer to a return but will only feature when the Stour medical team are sure he's over his ankle injury.