Football: Harvey World Travel Alliance

STUDLEY hitman Shane Benjamin took his tally to an impressive four in four matches with a brace in Saturday's Harvey World Travel Alliance match at Boldmere with strike partner Andy Johnson reaching three in four in the 3-2 win.

But Bees boss Kevin Rowlands was more interested in basking in the afterglow of last week's stunning Birmingham Senior Cup triumph over a Tamworth side playing four divisions and 79 places above Studley in the non-league pyramid. It was a result the delighted manager described as 'the best result in the club's history'.

"We've never beaten a Conference club before," said Rowlands, "I think the players deserve recognition for that, I was proud of every single one of the players we used, they were 12 heroes out there."

It was Andy Johnson who scored the decisive goal, in the 37th minute.

"It's one of those results you wish you could wallow in a bit more," said Rowlands, no stranger to cup upsets after guiding his Alliance charges to the Worcestershire Senior Cup final last season via giant killings against Moor Green, Evesham United and Bromsgrove.

"They were 79 places above us and their wage bill is ten times ours.

"But we played some great football and got a fantastic win. AJ's goal came as he followed up a Shane Benjamin shot and the two are playing very well together and giving us an extra dimension up front. Now we look a major threat whenever we go forward.

"It was a fabulous display from 12 absolute heroes.

"We went there knowing there was no pressure on us, we could go there and express ourselves against better opposition at a better ground.

"They put out a full-strength side which makes the result even more fantastic. They are struggling in the Conference and were looking for a confidence booster.

"Their manager wanted to get some goals and take that confidence into the league, we were lined up as lambs to the slaughter at The Lamb.

"Crowds never change and I told the lads if they could keep it tight the Tamworth crowd would get frustrated and turn. In the event the fans gave Tamworth about 20 minutes.

"They could see they weren't controlling the game and they turned and put the pressure on their own team. We had to adjust to the pace for the first 15 or 20 minutes and they couldn't get their shots on target but that wasn't our fault or our problem."

The titanic effort from the Studley players showed on Saturday as the Bees staged a smash-and-grab at Boldmere.

Rowlands was hoping the club's winning form would continue in last night's planned league trip to Oldbury United, despite the absence of Benjamin through his accountancy course commitments.

Andy Grubb and Warren Givens were competing for the right to replace him.

The Bees hope to have Benjamin back for the visit of Quorn on Saturday (ko 3pm).