PAUL Smith hailed match-winner Reece Hewitt after his stunning brace kept up Bromsgrove Sporting’s title-tilt in the Midlands Division One.

The forward made it 13-goals for the season as he bagged a salvo as the Rouslers defeated Leicester Road.

Victory opened up the gap between second-placed Sporting and third in the table Leicester to eight points.

Bromsgrove are also just a point behind leaders Coventry United, who have two games in hand.

Sporting welcome their title rivals to the Victoria Ground on Saturday, March 12, and the aim is to keep the heat on them in the hope they slip up.

Smith said: “Reece is such a great lad and he’s really coming into his own.

“I’ve managed him for five years and he’s just a lovely loyal lad, there have been a lot of seven-day bids put in for him but he’s wanted to play for me.

“Both of his goals were excellent; the first was a lovely team goal but the second just typical Reece - he beat four men for pace and finished really well.

“He’s been one of our most consistent players over the season and it was great to see him score two lovely goals.”

Smith added: “The win over Leicester Road really opens up a good gap over the teams below and I genuinely believe it would take something special for one of those sides to overtake us now.

“We’re not looking down we’re looking up. We’ve just got to take it one game at a time.

“All we can do is keep the pressure up on Coventry and hopeful they will slip up before we play them in March.”

After several weeks playing the division’s better teams, they face strugglers Bolehall at home on Saturday (3pm ko) and seven days’ later they go to Southam United.

But Smith expects his troops to maintain their focus and attitude to keep the pressure on Coventry.

He said: “It’s important that the players maintain their work ethic and desire and I am sure we’ll win.

“We can’t take them lightly but we’re in very good form at the moment.”