KIDDERMINSTER Cricket Club's young players earned a confidence booster before Saturday's journey into the unknown.

Spirits were high after they recorded a good six-wicket win over Kings Heath in the National Knockout Cup on Sunday.

And relegated Kidderminster take the victory into Saturday's first Birmingham and District League Division One fixture at newly promoted Shrewsbury.

Skipper Sean Lloyd admitted: "That was a good result for us. Kings Heath are in the division below but they were all senior players.

"The cup is quite high profile and is a good opportunity for recognition for the young guys looking to get on in the game."

Kidderminster will take one of their youngest bowling attacks into the match at former Division Two West club Shrewsbury.

Andrew and Craig Siwicki, Ted Baylis, Joe Hill and Richard Bradford are among them, while young star Steve Davies will be wicket-keeper.

Bradford has been in good early-season form after being reinvented as an all-rounder.

Lloyd is hoping his new captaincy role will take some of the pressure off previous skipper Mark Mansell and allow him to play his natural game.

He said: "I hope Mark can relax a little. His best position is to open the batting and he has been the leading batsman here for the last 10 years.

"He will open with Steve Davies and it's going to be an ideal foil as they are right and left-handed batsmen.

"Saturday's match will be a bit of the unknown. We expect it to be hard and Shrewsbury must have a good catchment area.

"There won't be many easy games this year. I think the lads can turn up and be very good but then being so young they can quite easily have a bad day.

"Shrewsbury could be a very good side but the division they were promoted from could have been poor."

Kidderminster are looking for a first-team scorer and anyone interested can call Lloyd at the club on 01562 824175.