MATT Maturi believes Lads Club can finish in the top half of the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division next season after the Hereford side secured promotion.

Maturi scored the opening goal in a 3-0 win over Shenstone Pathfinders that sealed Lads Club's place.

"I think we can finish at least mid-table with the lads we've got and even maybe top eight," said Maturi.

"I think we've got a really good squad here and we can kick on next season if we can keep hold of the lads and may be add one or two.

"It helped that Ludlow dropped off, but really we should have won the league, but in the end we made it and got promoted."

Maturi was delighted to grab a goal and that the team kept a clean sheet.

"It was brilliant to get the goal for the lads and being part of the back-four to keep the clean sheet," he said.

"It was good all-round for the defence, so I'm really happy.

"It's been the first clean sheet for a few weeks, we had a really good defence at the start of the season, so it was nice to finish on a high."

Lads Club player-manager Danny Moon was ecstatic that his had finally made the step up.

It means his side will be on a par with county rivals Pegasus Juniors and Wellington next season.

"I'm over the moon for all the boys and everyone at the club, it's massive for us to get promoted," he said.

"We played well but we probably didn't the goals.

"It's been a long season and the boys have been absolutely amazing.

"We have controlled virtually every game we have played and not taken our chances and missed gilt-edged ones.

"But we kept going, we kept a clean sheet and it's a great day for Lads Club.

"In the management side, we had a five-year plan of getting us in the West Midlands Premier League and we've done it on the fifth year.

"I think the main thing for us is that we can update our facilities and grow within the club now, with the FA funding allowing us to move on."

Lads Club got off to the perfect start when Maturi powerfully headed home Darren Andrews' corner in the fourth minute.

Moon then drilled an effort wide before Maturi's cross just missed his team mates.

In the 25th minute, Moon clipped the top of the cross bar with another powerful effort and then Maturi couldn't get his shot away when the ball reached him from a corner.

Steve Dixon put the ball into the net in the 31st minute, but the goal was disallowed for handball and Dixon was booked.

Lads Club dominated the first half, but Andrew Charlton managed to get a shot in on goal just before the break, but his effort went wide.

However, the home side did get the second goal their dominance deserved in the 56th minute.

Dan Herbert saw his shot saved from Andrews' cross, but Moon was on hand to tap the ball home.

Jordan Burke then sealed the win five minutes from time with a well-struck shot.