KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Phil Brown has called for two more huge efforts from his table-topping side as they bid to clinch automatic promotion back to the National League.
Saturday’s win at relegated Rushall Olympic, coupled with Scunthorpe going down 1-0 at King’s Lynn, means that victories in Harriers’ last two games will see them finish top of National League North.
Kidderminster face Hereford at Aggborough on Bank Holiday Monday, with a big crowd expected.
Hereford are also chasing a play-off spot and need the points – Scunthorpe, meanwhile, host mid-table Peterborough Sports while Brackley, level on points with Kiddy, are at Leamington.
The only way Harriers can make sure of promotion – without worrying about other results – is to win their matches.
Goals from Ashley Hemmings and Dave Davis sealed the points against Rushall – and now the Harriers manager knows his side are in pole position.
He told the club’s official YouTube channel: “Some of them are playing on sheer passion as opposed to being fit enough to play. And I love that.
“They’re saying they want to be out there want to win.
“That kind of passion and commitment means I’m a happy man going into the last two games.
“I’ll take whatever comes. I know it’s going to be a tough old ask against Hereford, and they’ve probably got a score to settle because they were, they were hurting after the 3-0 defeat this season.
“But it was merited, and we deserved it, I hope we bring that a game to the party.”
Despite the pressure cooker situation, Brown admits he would have taken this scenario at the start of the season with two games left.
He added: “I think most managers would, and it’s one of those where we ask ‘How have we got there?’
“We’ve been there before on a couple of occasions, but how we’ve got there this time is just a level of consistency that’s above and beyond anybody else in the division for about, probably now, 12-13, games.
“That was after a couple of really bad results – Marine where really sticks in my mind, coupled with Spennymoor at home.
“It looked as if our season was coming to a halt, you – coming to an end.
“But I’m not that kind of guy. I refused to accept that. Especially with the amount of points still there – but what the players have done since is nothing short of brilliant.
“It comes down to a couple of new signings coming in, changing the atmosphere in the changing room.
“But the team I’m putting out there week in and week out. I’m quite happy with. If we can manage to do that for another two 90 minutes, then it’ll be our league
“But Monday’s a big test for everybody, we want the supporrters bouncing off the rafters.”
