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FORMER Bashley star Wade Elliott has paid a glowing tribute to his old mentor Steve Riley ahead of tonight's promotion showdown.

The Burnley winger is hoping the Recreation Ground outfit can keep punching above their weight when they meet Team Bath in the Southern League Premier Division play-offs at Twerton Park this evening (7.45pm).

Elliott has fond memories of his time at the New Forest club, where he played before joining Cherries for £5,000 in 2000.

He starred for Bash alongside current manager Riley, and believes he always demonstrated the attributes required to be a good manager during their time together.

Speaking to the Daily Echo yesterday, Elliott said: "I'm really pleased for him, he was a big help for me when I was there.

"I was only 18 or 19 when I first started playing at Bashley and Riles was one of the older heads and one of the ones who took me under his wing.

"I think he was our skipper and he was always a leader and quite vocal. I could see he had that sort of presence where the lads looked up to him and respected what he said.

"We had a team of strong characters and everybody always listened to Riles and whatever he said always carried a bit of weight."

The 29-year-old Southampton-born star, who scored 10 goals in 31 appearances during his final season with Bash, is happy to see the club moving up the non-league ladder.

He said: "I'm especially pleased for Riles that they have done so well and for everyone behind the scenes, it's still pretty much the same people who keep the club ticking over.

"Anyone who's been down there will tell you how good a welcome you get and it's terrific they've got a chance to progress again.

"Bashley are a small club in the forest and they would be competing against clubs with far bigger set-ups in Conference South, but that's probably always been the case.

"They've always been able to punch above their weight and I'm sure they'd have every chance."

Bash go into tonight's meeting against Team Bath in good spirits, having beaten the Students 4-3 at the beginning of the month.

But the star of that match, hat-trick hero Richard Gillespie, could miss out because of a hamstring problem, although he is named in the squad.

There is better news on the fitness of central defenders Pete Castle and Gary Middleton, however, who are both in line to start at Bath.

Riley rested the majority of his first-team at the weekend in order to maximise fitness levels ahead of tonight's match, the winners of which will face either Halesowen Town or Chippenham Town on Saturday for a place in the Conference South next season.

Bashley: (from) Elm, Gazzard, Ferrett, Castle, Middleton, Smith, Archbold, Knowles, Davis, Moss, Town, Keeler, Harper, Sainsbury, Wakefield, Gillespie, Brock, Burch.

7:00am Tuesday 29th April 2008

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