MANAGER John Pemberton praised Kidderminster’s commitment despite their narrow defeat to Chester.

Matty Hughes scored the only goal of the game as the visitors left Aggborough with three points.

However, the boss had nothing but praise for the hard work of his players due to the workload the small squad is having to get through during a hectic first month of the season.

He said: “It’s a battle all round but the lads are having a go. I can’t ask more than that, they have been magnificent.

“We’re creating chances. We played a good side today, a really well-organised team full of experience and quite a big squad and you can see the difference.

“The difference is we should go ahead. We had a good chance in the first half and I can’t put the ball in the net for Chambo in the second half. It’s an open goal but that’s where we are at the moment.

“We’ve got to keep plugging away. I’ve got to keep asking them to go again and again and god bless them they are.

“I can’t ask any more of them. They’ve been brilliant.

“We are trying to get through eight games in a month, which is absolutely ridiculous. Then we’ve got to play Saturday and Monday. It’s crackers but we’re trying to get the month out the way. I’ll be glad to see the back of this month.

“The lads need a rest and to regroup. We’re hardly doing any training because we’re just recovering the players. So they’ve done magnificent and I’m not whipping them at all because they’ve been great.”