Halesowen Town moved right into the play-off picture after a 2-1 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Chippenham Town at the weekend and manager Martin O'Connor was upbeat about their prospects.

Goals from skipper Lee Williams and a winner from sub Junior Brown, with his first goal for the club, saw The Yeltz come from behind to win the game in front of a bumper crowd of nearly 500 at the Grove.

And O'Connor was quick to praise the character of his side while not being totally happy with their performance.

The happy manager said: "If I'm being honest I have to say we did not play very well. But you have to credit the players for the way they came back to win. At this stage of the season it is all about the results anyway, they are much more important than performances."

O'Connor also lavished praise on matchwinner Brown - a recent signing from Midland Combination side Chelmsley Town - and said the former soldier would continue to get better with each game he plays. "It is all about match fitness with Junior," explained the manager. "And the fitter he gets the sharper he will get.

"We got Junior in as we knew that Troy Deeney might be recalled by Walsall and we needed someone to be direct and show some pace. We hope that he will keep improving."

The Yeltz boss said that he had not given up hope of top scorer Deeney returning to The Grove for a second spell and added: "There is not a week goes by that do not speak to Walsall and obviously Troy's name is one we talk about. But if he is in and around their squad then good luck to him. He came to watch us on Saturday when Walsall's reserve game was called off and that speaks volumes for his attitude."

One player who will be staying at The Grove is Nick Amos. The experienced midfiield man has attracted interest from a number of clubs - with AFC Telford the latest make an approach - but O'Connor does not expect him to leave. "I've had a chat with Nick," he confirmed. "And he's told me he would like to stay here and I'm pleased as he is a very important and good player."

Amos will take his place in a Halesowen squad travelling to mid-table Maidenhead United on Saturday but the manager says, despite their league position the Berkshire side will present a tough test. "We have had them watched and the reports I've had say that they are a very good side, but it is not about them. I am only concerned with us and what we do."

The long trip down to the Berkshire club's York Road Ground will be Halesowen's first.

United-managed by former Yeading boss Johnson Hippolyte-will be looking for a double over the Yeltz.

They claimed a memorable 3-1 win at the Grove back in September thanks to a brace from Craig O'Connor and one from Abdul Osman.