The Royals arrived at Harrison Park with just two defeats from their 19 league games, but left the Moorlands with their tails firmly between their legs after a 6-1 thrashing.

Tim Grice bagged a hat-trick, while Liam Shotton, Dan Shelley and Matt Bell were also on the scoresheet.

Casswell says the result may look impressive, but was honest enough to put it down to one of those ‘freak’ results in football.

“It happened to us a few weeks ago when Mickleover put five goals past us. They were not that much better than us on the day, but they got the rub of the green.

“Sutton Coldfield didn’t get to the top of the table by being a bad side and to be honest I felt a little sorry for their manager, because I have been there.”

Wednesday night’s win, and the 3-0 victory at Brigg Town on Saturday has seen Leek close the gap to Sutton Coldfield, who remain top, to 12 points, but Leek have six games in hand over them.

Casswell says he impressed on the players before the game the importance of starting to close the gap on some of the teams above them.

Leek remain in eighth spot, but are now three points behind local rivals Stafford Rangers who occupy the last play-off spot.

“It was important we didn’t let the teams above us get too far away. We have enjoyed good runs in the FA Cup and Trophy, but the result of that is, you get behind with league games.”

“Newcastle Town and Stafford have been playing league games and have put points on the board. Now we have got to make the most of our games in hand to keep in touch with them if we want to finish in the play-off spots.”

Casswell has special words or praise for hat-trick hero Grice, who has been given an extended run in the team following the ankle injury to last season’s leading scorer Jordan Johnson.

“He was magnificent on Wednesday night. In fact I went with a front three and all of them, Gricey, Liam Shotton and Dan Shelley were causing problems all night and they are all scoring goals.”

Grice took his tally for the season to nine with his hat-trick, Shelley has scored two in the last two games to take his tally to nine, while Shotton is now leading the way with 13 following his 27th-minute strike.

All three are likely to be in the starting line-up for tomorrow’s home match against Tividale.

The only injury doubt is midfielder Ant Danylyk who was substituted on Wednesday night after complaining of a tight hamstring.

Niall Maguire will come in to replace him, while striker Johnson is another week away from recovering from the ankle injury he picked up in the FA Trophy replay victory at Spalding on November 4.