Manager Tony Choules has praised Uxbridge’s youth set-up as he pushes his side for a top-10 finish.

The Reds were held to a goalless derby stalemate with Choules’ former club Northwood at the weekend but remained within touching distance of their target.

Choules has high hopes for young prospects Mitchell Wiseman, Kyle Rochford and Jake Groves and has vowed to give his youngsters a chance at first-team football.

The manager said: “We’ve worked very hard with our scouting team to bring these kids in and the conveyor belt is producing the talent. We’re proud to be the club that gives young players a chance to play first-team football. We develop kids properly.

“The enthusiasm will always be there but of course they will make mistakes. They are young, it’s natural that they will make mistakes but we will help them. The conveyor belt is in its third year now, really, and it’s providing us with great talent.

“We’ve got such a great scouting team, headed up by Gary Mills, and Paul Mills, his assistant and if I’d have known him when I’d started out as a manager we’d have been coaching at a very high standard right now.

Calling the shots: Tony Choules

“The boys in the reserves and the youth teams are managed well and when the kids are ready they come to us and tell us. Nine times out of 10 they’re right and I like the environment we’ve created here.”

After a drab goalless draw at Northwood, Choules’ men were due to face Bedford Town last night (Tuesday) and take on top-of-the-table Kettering Town this weekend.

There’s no midweek fixture for Northwood this week but they travel to Marlow on Saturday afternoon.

Also in the Southern League Division One Central, AFC Hayes beat St Ives to record their first win in five, with goals from Jake Cass, Eugene Asante and Ryan Debattista.

Last night Hayes were set to play Godalming Town and will face Beaconsfield SYCOB at the weekend, as they look to avoid relegation.

In the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division, Harefield were dispatched 5-0 by Kings Langley and Hillingdon Borough didn’t fare much better, as they lost 4-1 to Colney Heath, with Anthony Hickey the goalscorer.

Next week the sides host Leverstock Green and Biggleswade United, respectively.