HIMLEY captain Stuart Wedge admits the situation at the top of the table is becoming tense but insists his players can cope with the pressure.

Wedge’s side are third in Birmingham League Premier Division at the business end of the season, 21 points behind leaders Walsall with six games to go.

The Stourbridge Road side missed a chance to close the gap on the leaders, after they could only secure a winning draw with Kidderminster Victoria, as Wedge failed to get the winning run off the final ball to see the scores tied.

But with Walsall losing at second place Berkswell, a result which pulled the home side level on points with Himley, the skipper preferred to see the positives.

He said the next few weeks would be crucial, with Himley travelling to mid-table Shrewsbury on Saturday while Walsall take on basement boys Wellington.

Wedge said: “It’s getting tense. But we haven’t played many of the middling teams which we are going to do on Saturday.

“We have to make sure we win these games and let the other results take care of themselves.

“A win would have closed the gap nicely on Walsall and the ball just slipped through and I couldn’t get an edge on it but it was a good game and we did well to put ourselves in that position anyway.

“It’s going to be an exciting end to the season which is what people want to see and there is plenty of cricket left to play, I’m just glad we’re in the shake up and we will do our best to come out on top.”

Meanwhile, Netherton ’s worrying slump continued with a one-wicket defeat to Wormelow.

The hosts looked set for victory in a relatively low-scoring game but visiting number 11 Alastair Mann hit a unbeaten 11 to help Tim Boulter (26 not out) nudge their side home.

Netherton are now eighth in Worcestershire League Division Two and will look to quell any growing relegation fears when they host Stourport this Saturday.

Simon Oseland (37) and Troy Lee (36) formed the backbone of the hosts 168-7, a score bumped up by Danny Lowe’s late unbeaten 25.

Opening bowler Darren Hall then tore through the Wormelow top order to put the visitors in real trouble.

He took 6-28 and when Will Cass was removed for a duck, the hosts were favourites to win, only to be denied by the heroics of Boulter and Mann.