KEITH Draper wants Bromsgrove Sporting to spend the festive period top of the Midland Combination Premier after Saturday’s win over Castle Vale ended a tough week for the club.

Jon Rogers’ brace was the difference as the Rouslers bounced back from two successive defeats at the hands of Lichfield.

Despite their three-point deduction last week after losing their appeal over August’s postponed Brocton match, Sporting head into their Christmas fixtures level on points with Walsall Wood and Saturday’s opponents Littleton (3pm ko), although their inferior goal-difference sees them third.

Draper said: “We’ve had some ups and downs in the last few weeks but I think we’ve come through it stronger.

“I look at where we our in the division and I would love us to be top of the table over Christmas.

“Whatever happens we won’t be any lower than third place and considering this is our first season in the division, that’s a great place to be.”

The manager also believes last week’s disappointing news they were deducted three points has only galvanised the team.

He said: “We had a meeting with the players before the Castle Vale game to make sure they knew what happened.

“We’ve tried to turn it to our advantage and I believe it has galvanised the players.”

The club also drafted in Adam Humphries from Alvechurch and Daniel Mroczkowski from Alcechurch to replace defensive duo Mike Thurbon and Karl Fellows, who have joined West Midlands Police and Blackwood respectively.

Meanwhile, Fairfield Villa rose to the top of Division One after beating Glades FC 4-0 thanks to goals for Stuart Hall (2), Keiron Evans and Craig Cosgrave.

But joint boss Paul Oakes thinks Saturday’s home clash against high-flying Hampton will be a big test of Villa’s good form.

He said: “It’s a great acheivement to be top but we’ve had a run of games I thought we could win. But we’ve got a much tougher test against Hampton coming up on Saturday.”