Worcester City boss Richard Dryden is keen for his players to maintain the quick tempo of their game as they look to stretch their unbeaten run to four matches.

The St George’s Lane side entertain sixth-placed Bishop’s Stortford in Blue Square South on Saturday (3pm) as they look to pull away from the drop-zone.

Having won their last two games at home, City are bidding to make it three wins in a row on their own patch.

Dryden believes that is all down to the speed his charges are playing at.

“We have upped our tempo in the last few weeks and are getting the ball through the middle as quickly as we can,” Dryden said.

“Our passing is also coming along and, while we may lose the ball at times, I think we are knocking it around nicely.

“When you have players like Matt Birley and little Matt Dinsmore this is something you have to do.”

But the City chief insists his players aren’t afraid to go route one if they need to.

“Sometimes when you try to pass the ball around, it doesn’t always work and that is when we have to utilise Rob Elvins,” Dryden said.

“Burnham made it hard for us in the FA Trophy last weekend so we had to get Rob in some good positions around the 18-yard area and play the ball over the top.”

However, Bishop’s Stortford are no Burnham — they are a side chasing a place in the Blue Square South play-offs.

Mark Simpson’s side have netted 19 times on the road and brought former Hereford United midfielder Glen Southam back to Woodside Park last month.

The Bishops also boast the league’s top-scorer in Charlie Sheringham, who has netted 14 times already this term.

“They are a good side and are up there for a reason,” Dryden said.

“Sheringham is scoring goals like there is no tomorrow at the moment.

“But sometimes the league can get a little distorted at this time of year. One minute, you are beating the top teams away from home and then you go and lose to a side in the bottom two.

“Saturday’s match will depend on which Worcester City team and which Bishop’s Stortford team turn up.”

Dryden is set to welcome back skipper Tom Kemp from a rib injury for Saturday’s clash after the centre-half missed the 2-1 FA Trophy victory over Burnham.

The City boss, however, has not been able to bring in a new left-back for the Bishop’s Stortford match.

Forward Alfie Carter is likely to continue in place of Shabir Khan, who is away with the Pakistan national side at the South Asia Federations Cup in Bangladesh.