TIVIDALE boss Dave King says the pressure is off his young players when they face league leaders Alvechurch this Saturday.

Tivi travel to the table-toppers for a clash with former boss Ian Long as they look to push away from the Midland Football League Premier Division danger zone.

King said: "There really is no pressure on us at all against Alvechurch.

"I want the players to go there and play with freedom and enjoy themselves. We are building something here now and are in good form at the moment. It feels like everything is starting to come together a little more.

"I want the players to just enjoy the occasion and see what they can do.

"Alvechurch are a good side and I think whoever finishes above them will win the league. They have got a lot of quality but that doesn't mean we can't cause them problems like we did against Khalsa."

Tividale go into the contest in fine spirits despite defeat against fifth-placed Sporting Khalsa last weekend.

Ten-man Dale lost 3-2 late on after Craig Stevens was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

Goals from Lewis McPike and Dan Smith saw King's men come back twice in the game before Church's Lewis Taylor-Boyce snatched it.

However, the manager thinks there is a lot of positives to take from the game.

He added: "We were superb. We played really well and I'm pleased for the lads that they put that performance in.

"I think we could have scored one or two more but overall it was a great advert for the league.

"The players were heartbroken at the end but the performance and the goals we scored were up their with our best.

"There is a lot of positives to take and hopefully we can go into the Alvechurch game with a lot of confidence."