Stourbridge joint manager Stuart Pierpoint believes his team will be “full of confidence” ahead of FA Trophy second-round clash against the Vanarama South side.
The Glassboys’ opponents are one league above, sitting in 16th spot. Pierpoint’s side will travel to Hertfordshire for the clash on Saturday November 27.
Hemel Hempstead are yet to win at home this season, with the Stourbridge manager positive about his side’s chances.
He said: “I certainly wouldn’t write us off in any game that we play.
“We certainly won’t be going there as favourites so it will be a game where we’ll approach it positively and try and get at them. We’re not naive enough to think they’re not going to be a good side, they’ll have good players and being at home they’ll be heavily the favourites but if we can start well and we can get ourselves into the game we know that we’ve got players that can cause any team problems on their day.
“We’ll respect them but won’t fear them.”
The Glassboys progressed following a 2-1 away win against Carlton Town.
The hosts took the lead just before the break while a Montel Gibson second-half brace secured the victory for Pierpoint’s side. The striker’s second came in the 85th minute with the manager delighted with the win, hoping the result will help boost squad morale.
Pierpoint added: “Every game breeds confidence and that’s one thing that maybe the boys have been missing over the last few months. We’ve got a bunch of talented boys in the dressing room and the quality is undoubted, it’s just a case of making sure we can give them the confidence and the platform to play on. Obviously every game we win will breed more and more confidence so yeah, it can only be a positive thing.”
The 39-year-old was appointed joint manager in October alongside former teammate Leon Broadhurst, with the club struggling in the bottom-half of the Southern League Premier Division Central.
The FA Trophy has proved to be a shining light for Stourbridge, reaching the second round proper for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Pierpoint says he is not getting carried away with a cup run.
The manager said: “We’re not getting too carried away with anything at the moment, you know, it’s new, it’s fresh. We’re new into the role, only five games in so we’re just taking every game as it comes and see what happens really.
“Any cup competition, any game you want to win, but any cup competition, it’s always nice to have a run. We were out of the FA Cup early so for the club to have a run in the Trophy would be great but we’re not looking too far ahead, we’re just seeing how things go game to game.”
