TONY Hutchings admits Hanley Castle and Upton’s promotion-winning form has “exceeded everyone’s expectations by miles”.

But with four games left of the Worcestershire League Division Four, the veteran bowler has urged his teammates to “keep on rolling” as they bid to secure a top-two spot.

Hanley are on a run of three successive wins, including last Saturday’s three-wicket victory at Claverley.

The winning streak has seen them move 33 points clear of third-placed West Malvern and 18 points off leaders Bromsgrove.

But Hutchings insisted finishing in the promotion places was not something they set out to achieve at the start of the campaign.

“This season has exceeded everyone’s expectations by miles,” said Hutchings whose side visits Kidderminster tomorrow (12.30pm).

“We started winning games and kept going. I don’t think anyone at the start of the season would have contemplated even having a conversation about getting promoted whereas now it is a huge topic of conversation.

“If we win half of our remaining games there is a very good chance we will get promoted which would be great for the club.

“It is quite amazing how the season has kept going like this. We have a winning mentality now and we just need to keep on rolling. We have got four games left and we need to stick to our winning ways.”

Last season Hanley escaped relegation by just nine points, but with Grant Mathews, Will St Leger-Chambers and Ollie Price all scoring more than 280 runs and Hutchings taking 40 wickets the villagers have been transformed.

“We haven’t got many new players, but we have just pulled together as a club,” Hutchings said.

“We are not one of these clubs where we have got one guy that scores 1,000 runs and takes 50 tickets every year.

“Everybody is helping out and making contributions.

“We have got a very good club spirit which has taken us forward.”

The 46-year-old added: “We have got a new set of covers and nets which have helped a lot as it has got a lot of people back down here and given us impetus.

“We are small village club. We don’t have huge aspirations, but it is nice that we are winning and looking at promotion now.”