BROMSGROVE Sporting boss Paul Smith found himself thumbing through his side's stats this week prior to their 2-0 success over Long Eaton United.

Smith revealed: "The players always arrive an hour and 15 minutes before the game and I'm constantly looking for something different to say to them.

"Someone suggested I check the recent stats and I discovered that we'd only lost one league game in the last 48, winning 41 of those games in the process.

"When I told the players, they were genuinely taken aback. I wanted to inform the players, just to reiterate how well they have been doing. It's a record that any team, at any level of football, would be proud of.

"I knew we'd find it a lot tougher at Midland League Premier level this season, but we keep finding ways to win games of football.

"Equally pleasing is the fact we've kept four clean sheets in a row and only conceded seven goals in 10 league games this season and we've continued from where we left off last season".

Goals in either half from Robbie Bunn and Guy Clark did the trick.

Smith added: "I thought 2-0 flattered Long Eaton and we should have won by more. but if you'd offered me a 2-0 win before the game, I would have taken it. I thought for periods of the second half that we were a joy to watch."

Smith was able to add Redditch United striker Daniko Johnson to his line up.

The Sporting boss said: "I'd been keeping tabs on Daniko ever since we had him on loan early in the season when he played a game against Stourport Swifts.

"He came training with us and is just the sort of player I like.

"With Wade Malley, Chris Conway and Joe Ward all missing at the moment, it has only left me with two fit strikers in Jason Cowley and Sean Brain.

"Chris has already been ruled out for the rest of the season while Wade could be out for several weeks with his ankle problem.

"When I heard that Daniko had lost patience with Redditch after being unable to get a starting place in the side, I contacted manager Darren Byfield. As a result, Daniko has signed for us, but Redditch also retain his registration."

Sporting's appeal continues to increase as the victory over Long Eaton was watched by a crowd of 1,046 and Smith added: "It's a phenomenal number at this level of football and the supporters just keep on coming.

"I only hope they all enjoyed the game and want to come back. Bromsgrove Sporting is a great place to be at the moment."

Sporting travel to Derbyshire based Heanor Town this Saturday when Danny Morris should return to the ranks having missed the win over Long Eaton owing to work commitments.