Non-league previews: Halesowen targeting the top as Penn celebrates a year in charge

​He has now completed a year in the Halesowen hotseat after being appointed at the end of February last year, and he has wasted little time in leading the Yeltz into the fight for the Southern Central Premier title.

Halesowen sit five points adrift of leaders Bedford Town ahead of hosting Banbury United tomorrow and have lost just once in their last five league games as they battle for promotion. 

Success at the club is familiar to Penn and his family, with his father Mark having been part of the Yeltz team that reached three FA Vase finals at Wembley during the 1980s, winning two.

"Being competitive was what we wanted to do when I took the job," said Penn. "We are a little bit more than that and are smelling it a bit now.

"But, I don't want to get carried away with ourselves because we are where we are, but we can be a force and that is what we want to do.

"It might be sooner than we thought but you have got to take it and thrive on it.

"I love where we are at at the moment. I think we have still dropped major points this season as well.

"But, we will embrace where we are at the moment."

The Yeltz enjoyed a slender 1-0 win at Banbury earlier in the season and have impressed at home with 11 wins from 17 matches so far.

More than 3,000 supporters watched Penn's side overcome their rivals Stourbridge at The Grove last month, and he is hoping that gate numbers will remain high to help his side in their quest to finish in the top five. 

"I know exactly what the supporters are like and they haven't changed," he added. "If by being up there can get a couple of hundred more then great.

"Especially at this stage in the season we have got four home games to go. 

"We are looking up rather than down because we are only five points from the top with a game in hand.

"We have all got to play each other and so I am sure there will be plenty of twists and turns.

"We have just got to manage ourselves and the biggest thing for me is this week at Banbury. There are not a lot of mid-week games left and that can have a big part in the weeks ahead.

"They have got one of the best defensive record in the league but haven't found that natural goal scorer. Fortunately we have got one of those and it just shows the difference.

"It is by no means a tough game but our home record is great and whoever we have played we have done well and we have got to continue hat this weekend."

Elsewhere, 11th-placed Stourbridge, who sit 12 points adrift of Halesowen in the final play-off spot, go to Stratford Town.

Meanwhile, in the National League North, Kidderminster Harriers host Scarborough Athletic looking for their third win in a row while relegation-threatened Rushall Olympic visit Warrington Town.