Old Richians will be refreshed and ready to go for their top-of-the-table clash in Division One of the Stroud League at Minchinhampton in six days’ time.

The Gloucester club were without a game yesterday but they will be looking to maintain their recent good form which has seen them unbeaten in six after their opening-day 2-0 defeat at fellow early-season high-fliers Tuffley Rovers Reserves.

Two of those six games have ended in draws but they won 3-1 at Stroud United last time out with goals from Sam Sysum (two) and Ben Smith.

Old Richians were beaten to the Division One title by Wickwar Wanderers last season and joint manager Rob Lacey, who works alongside Paul Finch, would love to go one better this time around.

Not that it will be easy.

“It’s a very tight division, a team at the top can lose to a team at the bottom,” said 41-year-old Lacey. “A couple of injuries and you can soon drop off.”

Twelve teams make up the division, including Abbeymead Rovers who won the Division Two title last season.

Old Richians drew 3-3 at home to Abbeymead at the start of  September – Sysum with two and Ross Peters were their goalscorers – and Lacey said: “It’s been an incredibly difficult start to the season.

“We had injuries in pre-season and then we had four games in the first two weeks, taking everything into consideration I think we’ve made a positive start.

“It’s going to take a real squad effort to be there or thereabouts, 16 to 20 players. The aim is to get into the Northern Senior League but it’s a quality division.”

Minchinhampton have certainly stamped their mark on the division this season under new manager Martyn Low.

“They are a good team and they’ve got a good set-up,” continued Lacey. “They’ve got some good younger players with a few older heads, it’s always a battle against them.

“They are similar to us, they know how to play football but they know when to be physical, they can adapt.”