GARY Hackett says his side are fully focused on Saturday’s trip to Arlesley.

There was disappointment in midweek when Tuesday’s eagerly anticipated trip to face runaway Calor Southern League Premier Division leaders Hemel Hempstead Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

But Hackett says the opportunity to tackle Hemel will come round again and for now he’s taking each game as it comes as he tries to steer the Glassboys into the play-offs for the second successive season.

“We’re in the lap of the gods with the weather at the moment but we’ll prepare as if the game at Arlesley is going to be on until we hear otherwise. It was disappointing that the Hemel game was off as it was a game we were looking forward to,” said Hackett.

Stourbridge have the added distraction of a Birmingham Senior Cup clash with West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday to look forward to. “It’s a competition we will be looking to win, we won’t be taking it lightly.

“It’s always nice to have prestige games against teams like West Brom to look forward to.”

Stourbridge’s Amblecote ground was dry enough on Saturday for them to beat struggling Bashley 4-1 after stuttering at 1-1 at half time.

But in the end goals from Sean Geddes, Kayledon Brown, Ben Billingham and Leon Broadhurst made sure of the points to move Stourbridge into the play-off places.

“The conditions were a bit of a leveller and there was a little bit of nervous football until we got back in front and after that 4-1 didn’t flatter us to be fair,” said Hackett. “We have 15 games to go and we have key players coming back as we reach the critical part of the season but I think we’ll finish strongly.”

He revealed Nathan Bennett has resumed training following his virus and was pleased to have George Washbourne back in the fold following six weeks out with glandular fever.

He added: “We went close last year but there is probably more pressure on us this year as there is more expectation. At the start our goals were a good FA Cup run – and we’ve more than achieved that – and the play offs and we have a good shout at doing that.”