Craig Rouse wants Worksop Town to stamp their authority over Belper Town

The Nailers are currently top of the league table, three points ahead of Worksop having played two games more.

They started the season with a 1-0 win against Sutton Coldfield Town in the FA Cup before exiting the competition with a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Buxton. They began the season with a 4-0 victory over Market Drayton Town before losing to Chasetown in the following league game.

Belper then recorded three straight victories over Frickley Athletic, Glossop North End and Sutton Coldfield Town, again, this time beating the Blues 7-1 on Tuesday night.

“We want to go there and fight fire with fire,” said Rouse.

“They will attack us, and we will attack them, so we will see who comes out on top.

“We have a philosophy; we don’t try to adapt to anyone so we will go there with attacking intent, so hopefully we can go and stamp our authority and we will be going there full of confidence and to try and win.

“We have been to Anstey [Nomads], Westfields FC and Wisbech [Town], so we have played on grass pitches three times and come away with a win each time, so if you can’t win on a grass pitch, then you shouldn’t be playing.

“We are blessed with the pitch we have here, but grass pitches are player’s bread and butter, so there is no change for us.”

Rouse also believes it will be a thrilling game for the neutral, admitting that it will be a difficult test for his side.

He continued: “It will be a brilliant game; two sides who are bang in form and I know nothing is won or lost in September, but both sides are up there and both sides have started the season very well, so it is going to be a tough game.

“They will be big, physical, committed; they are always the same, they are set up well and know how to attack set-pieces in both boxes.

“I know that there are a few ex-Worksop players in their line-up and a few players, who are all familiar to each other, so it should be a good clash and we look forward to it.”