GLASSBOYS boss Gary Hackett is confident his side will secure a Southern Premier League play-off place.

He has backed his players for a top five finish after they only just failed to take anything from Tuesday night's away game against league leaders Hemel Hempstead.

Stourbridge returned empty-handed from Vauxhall Road after the game finished 4-3 to the home side. However, Stour showed their ability and fighting spirit to equalise on three occasions.

As in the reverse game at Amblecote earlier in the campaign, Hemel took an early lead when Ben Mackey fired home from distance in just the third minute.

But Stourbridge fought back and levelled through Luke Benbow's 38th minute low angled shot after neat interplay with strike partner Kayleden Brown.

Hemel were ahead again by the break, though, as Ollie Thorne headed home after the Glassboys had failed to clear a corner.

Ten minutes after half time, Ben Billingham's driven free kick squirmed under Hemel keeper Lawrie Walker to even things up once again. But, once more, Hemel forged ahead through Lewis Toomey after more hesitancy in the Glassboys defence on 67 minutes.

Billingham again restored parity just four minutes later when his low cross eluded both Brown and Walker and crept in at the far corner for Stourbridge's 100th league goal of the season.

Despite Stourbridge's determined efforts, Hemel had the final word when Toomey burst through to fire high past Stour keeper Dean Coleman after 77 minutes.

Stourbridge went into the mid-week contest on the back of three straight victories and continued their recent resurgence with what was another creditable showing that left their manager under no doubts about what they can achieve as the season draws to a close.

"There were lots of positives to take from the match," said Hackett. "I'm gutted for the players because they deserved something from the game. We just need to cut out a few silly individual errors.

"But, if we continue to play the way we have been, It bodes very well for the remaining six games. I believe we will get that top five finish.

"We have got to believe we will get 18 points from those games. We will put a lot of pressure on the chasing teams if we continue to perform how we have been."

Stourbridge, who now travel to Frome Town this Saturday, have boosted their ranks with the signing of defender Joel Kettle from Sutton Coldfield.

They will, however, be without influential captain Sean Geddes, who will miss the contest with a sore knee.