Pete Frain has high hopes for Highgate

Sep 20 2008 By Nick Pullen, Birmingham Mail

HIGHGATE United boss Pete Frain has told his players they have nothing to fear from the Midland Alliance – even though their first win still eludes them.

Highgate were held to a goalless draw by close rivals Coleshill Town – the team that were promoted from the Midland Combination with them this summer.

While Coleshill have already collected a couple of victories, Highgate are left waiting to get off the mark, but Frain confirmed: “We won’t get any closer than we did against Coleshill. We had a couple of great chances to win the game, but didn’t take them.

“We did enough to win the game and nobody who was there could say any differently.

“But as long as we keep creating chances, our first win will happen.”

Frain has reinforced his side recently by bringing in right-back Jake Sammons from Racing Club Warwick, while left-back Richard Evans has arrived from Romulus on loan.

Another Roms player, Aaron Daniels, has joined Highgate to reinforce their attack.

Frain claimed: “I wanted to give all the players who helped us win promotion in the first place a fair crack of the whip.

“Now it has reached the point where I’ve had to make some very difficult decisions.”

As a result, Robert Higgs has joined Nuneaton Griff, while Tom Thacker has switched to Alliance high-flyers Coventry Sphinx.

Added to that, goalkeeper Sean Edwards has made the short journey to local rivals Knowle who are now playing in the Midland Combination Premier after agreeing a groundshare deal with Studley.

Frain also feels he’s unearthed a gem in 16-year-old left-back Tom Gittins who has been given his chance after impressing in the youth side.