Bridgnorth are gunning for the leaders

AFC Bridgnorth will be aiming to put down a marker on Saturday when North West Counties First Division South leaders Sandbach United roll into town.

The Meadow Men are sitting fifth in the standings - seven points adrift of the table-toppers but with two games in - following an impressive start that has seen them taste defeat just once in 11 games.

And boss Jack Griffiths admits he is trying to keep a lid on the excitement surrounding the game.

"As a group, we're so excited for Saturday. It's a massive game for us,” he said.

"I'm really looking forward to it. It's something that Bridgnorth hasn't had for a while, competing with the top teams in the league.

“We're just so happy where we are at the moment. I think it's one loss in 11 league games.

"It's where we want to be. What we wanted at the start of the season was to be in the play-offs. We just need to turn a couple of draws into wins again.

"I'll put my lads against anybody and I say that to them every game. When we are bang at it, as were for the first 30 minutes at Barnton on Saturday, I don't think anybody in the league will touch us.”

Bridgnorth had to settle for a share the spoils at Barnton after a thrilling 3-3 draw that saw them lead 2-0 and then trail 3-2.

"It's just concentration. We should have been out of sight Saturday, honestly," said Griffiths.

"But we took a point away from home. If you take points away from home and you win your home games, you've got a good chance, so that's what we're looking to do.

"We scored the two goals early and then we had a good chance for a third that probably would have won us the game. And then the next thing we know is, it's 2-2.

"We were a bit deflated at half-time after playing so well for 30 minutes. It took the sting out of us and then we gave a silly penalty away. But we showed character to come back and level."