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“I feel people around the club are beginning to take things for granted,” said Northwood last night. “That even went as far as some of the players – until I put them right. We need to take each game as it comes – we may be nearly there but nothing’s certain, especially in football.

“I reckon three more wins would clinch it for us but we must take one game at a time.”

Rovers’ title cause has been helped by Chasetown’s astonishing loss of form, with the Staffordshire club having failed to win in six matches.

And it would be helped still further by a win tomorrow over Blakenall, one of a dwindling band of clubs still in with a chance of snatching the championship.

Northwood has expressed an interest in signing experienced Tamworth striker Russell Gordon – but may be put off by the asking price.

“They want a fee for him which is too much for us. I’m still interested if the price is right, but I feel other clubs may be prepared to pay Tamworth what they want for him.”

Tuesday’s match at Tamworth was “ just a training session” and “more like a five-a-side than a real game,” insists Northwood.

“No-one should read anything into the result. They used 28 players and I was down to 11 before half time when Paul Acklam and Richard Denby came off.

“The score was 2-1 at half time and I feel if we’d carried on as it was then we would have walked all over them. But Sammy Chung brought on an entirely different team after the break and the fresh legs overwhelmed us.”

Improvement work starts on Monday at the Moat Ground as the club steps up its bid for promotion to the Beazer Homes League.

New terracing to the right of the Moat Street entrance, new fencing, new toilets and an improved entrance at the Church Street end are among projects set to start.

The club hopes to cover the cost by applying for grants from various sporting bodies.