Non-league football: Boast playing on the edge

BIDDULPH Vics joint-manager Karl Wilcox applauded Chris Boast's hat-trick in midweek, but said: "I can't trust him to stay on the pitch!"

Boast has twice received marching orders this term – both in the FA Vase at Mickleover and Shifnal – and Wilcox admitted:

"He plays on the edge and I would not want to change that, but I need to calm him down.

"Chris has to think about the challenges he makes because we can't afford to be without him."

Boast celebrated his return from a five-match ban with his three-goal burst in Tuesday's home game against Coalville.

The down side was he finished on the losing side as Vics went from one down to lead 2-1 and from 3-2 down to level with 10 minutes to go, only for the visitors to bag the winner.

Vics made changes with one eye on this weekend's Vase tie at Glossop – but afterwards Boast dared Wilcox to leave him out.

Wilcox said: "Coalville are a good side, but their manager told me we had given them their toughest game for some weeks. We should have got something out of the game.

"The fact that we made five changes and put up such a good show is testimony to the squad we are building."

Vics avoided a potential slip-up last week in winning away to bottom side Oldbury – a side yet to pick up three points – with youngster Matt Pearson scoring twice – his first goals since marking his debut in August.

ROCESTER manager Alan Beaman was "pleasantly surprised" by his team's performance in their Staffs Senior Cup tie at Kidsgrove this week.

Beaman felt he would "find out a lot about the team" and left the Seddon Stadium sufficiently encouraged by what he had seen.

He said: "The team has improved a bit and the 2-2 draw at the end of 90 minutes was no more than we deserved.

"I felt we were the better side in the first half and even when we went 2-1 down towards the end we did not buckle.

"Kidsgrove's possession was better, but both sides had chances and we matched them."

The signings of Chris McComisky (Rushall Olympic), Lee Brough and Andy Hadzik at the back have made a difference and local lad Darren Bullock continues to impress.

Rocester have yet to win in five games under Beaman, but he said: "We need a bit of confidence and a little bit of luck."