PARK Street Village manager Ryan Thompson is backing his strikers to shoot his side to a top-two finish in the Herts Senior County League Premier Division this season. Thompson has guided PSV to an amazing run of success in recent seasons,

PARK Street Village manager Ryan Thompson is backing his strikers to shoot his side to a top-two finish in the Herts Senior County League Premier Division this season.

Thompson has guided PSV to an amazing run of success in recent seasons, culminating in taking third spot in the Premier last season and winning the Aubrey Cup. This followed securing the Division One title in 2006/07 after previously dominating the Mid Herts League.

On Saturday the club open up the 2008/09 season at home to Wormley Rovers with a 3pm kick off at Toulmin Drive. On Tuesday, PSV host Lemsford with kick off at 6.30pm. The manager is determined that the team will continue their upward trend and enjoy an exhilarating campaign. Thompson said: "This is a good bunch of lads and they know what it is about. The cups are a bonus but the goal is to be top two in the league this year. We won everything in the Mid Herts and were the team everyone wanted to beat. We then went into the County League and won Division One when there were no expectations on us."

Striker Matty Newman, aged 26, has returned from Canada to lead the attack, along with the rapidly improving Andy Murphy and Thompson has great belief in the pair. He said: "Matty Newman is quick and has a great touch. He is quality and he knows he is but he doesn't rub people up the wrong way. I would put money on him to be the top goalscorer in the Premier League. Andy Murphy is quick and has an eye for goal. He is a strong lad and not scared to put himself about."

PSV have lost star winger Bruce Hutchison to Molten Spartan South Midlands outfit Hadley but have swooped for a number of new signings, including talented attacker Jamie Harper from Met Police Bushey. Thompson said: "Jamie is quick, strong and good with both feet. He gives us a lot of options up front. We were very frustrated to lose Bruce, especially as we put him forward for the league representative XI and the manager of that is the manager of Hadley. He has come from the Mid Herts with us and turned into one of our best players but we have got a lot of midfielders this year and a lot of cover up front."

Murphy scored after good work from Harper to give a mixture of PSV first-team players and reserves a 1-0 win at London Colney which was a fine scalp for the club. Thompson said: "They said it was London Colney reserves but they had a mixture with first teamers and we had the same. It was our first game and there were a few lads we were having a look at. The lads played really well."

Matty Day took the spotlight with a hat trick in an 8-1 win against Hatfield AFC. PSV went down 4-3 in a dramatic clash with 07/08 Premier Division winners Hatfield Town but they hit back to beat St Peter's 3-2.

Boss Ryan Thompson is looking to young reserves Dean Thompson and Ricky Petts to continue their progress with the club this term. He said: "Dean plays sweeper and looks good. He wouldn't be out of place in the first team and Ricky Petts is superb. He is knocking on the door.