BROMSGROVE Sporting boss Paul Smith has urged his players not to think about Saturday's FA Vase epic this week as the club prepare for the biggest game in their brief history.

Sporting entertain Cleethorpes Town in the first leg of the FA Vase semi-final on Saturday - the only side standing between them and a trip to Wembley - but all Smith is concerned about is picking up three points tonight against Bolehall Swifts in Midland League Division One.

Smith explained: "Our goal at the start of the season was to win the league and Tuesday's game with Bolehall was all I wanted the players to concentrate upon.

"They'll be plenty of time to focus on Cleethorpes and I've been trying to keep talk about the Vase out of the player's heads."

Smith is under no illusions of the task facing Sporting this Saturday.

Cleethorpes currently hold a clear lead on top of the Northern Counties East Division and have been sweeping all before them this season Smith travelled to deepest Lincolnshire himself last Wednesday night to watch Cleethorpes beat Worksop Town 4-1 and to see first hand the challenge that Sporting face.

He admitted: "They will be easily the best side we face this season by some stretch. To me, they are a proper men's side with all the players in their late 20's and early 30's "They are a very solid, efficient, no frills unit who all know the job they have to do.

"They have a number of ex-professionals in the side and they make very few mistakes. The task facing us is massive and we go into game as the clear underdogs.

"We need to be perfect on the day to stand any chance of getting something from Saturday's game. We cannot afford to carry any passengers.

"If we perform anything short of our best, then we'll be in trouble.

"We're a Step 6 side wearing Step 5 clothes. From what I saw, Cleethorpes are closer to Step 3."

Smith has been rotating his squad in recent weeks but that didn't prevent them from putting six goals past bottom of the table Southam United last Saturday.

Jason Cowley led the charge with a hat-trick but Smith was first to admit the scoreline could have been more.

He claimed: "It was a one-sided game, as the score suggests. The pitch wasn't the best and a bit of leveller.

"Southam are struggling at the moment, which isn't nice to see. We made changes and I could make another six changes for the game with Bolehall."

Both Liam Spink and Ahmed Ali were expected to play for at least an hour against Bolehall.

Smith was more concerned with the fact Luke Edwards lashed home another goal against Southam which means another £50 into the players end of season trip to Benidorm fund.

A wistful Smith said: "It's Luke's third goal of the season which has cost me £150 so far. I might as well take charge of the kitty, seeing as I've put most of the money into it."

The Bromsgrove boss will leave nothing to chance against Cleethorpes and will make sure he's wearing the same attire which has been worn in every round so far this season. That includes his lucky pants, although Smith admitted they were getting a bit worn now.