THE young lads of Holker Old Boys are aiming to keep belying their relative inexperience when second-placed Litherland REMYCA pay them a visit in North West Counties Division One tomorrow.

Guy Heffernan's side have been in fine form of late, with a 2-1 victory away to AFC Blackpool on Tuesday evening lifting them to ninth place, and within five points of the play-off places.

What is more, Holker's goals from Jack Stoker and John-Paul Stanway came on 85 and 87 minutes respectively, with late goals proving a decisive factor for them at times on their climb up the table.

That ability to keep in matches right until the final whistle is heartening for manager Heffernan, particularly as the squad has something of a youthful look about it.

"I am a bit sad and after games I write down the teams and analyse everything that has been done, and probably for the first 15 games of the season, our average age is only 21 or 22," said Heffernan.

"The most experienced people are the likes of Danny Keenan and Gaz Smith, who are 30 and 24-25 years old.

"It's a young team who are still learning, but the best thing is they want to keep learning and want to do well, which is the most important thing.

"The best thing about the lads is they've got a lot of heart, a lot of determination and if you look back over the last six or seven games, the amount of goals they've scored in the last 10 minutes – it's all about keeping your head and keeping going."

Holker already know what Litherland are capable of, having gone down 6-0 in the reverse fixture back in October, where all six goals came during the second half.

However, Rakesmoor Lane has not proven to be a happy hunting ground for visiting teams – including Division One leaders Silsden, who lost their unbeaten record in the league there two weeks ago, when a last-gasp finish from Nathan Reid secured a 1-0 win.

That result has given Heffernan belief Holker can topple another of the division's leading lights in Litherland, along with seeing how much his young players have learned from their experiences so far this season.

"We know what they're about, they are a good team and they're second in the league for a reason, but I can't see why the lads can't beat them this time," said Heffernan.

"The most important thing I said to them at the start of the year is they enjoy it, but the best thing about it is they learn from the week before and that is what they've taken on board.

"The mistakes they made in the second half against Litherland, they won't make those mistakes going forward and they'll keep doing that."

Heffernan hopes Holker's form and exciting young talent will attract more people down to watch as well, with attendances at Rakesmoor Lane rarely nudging above 50 so far this season.

"I do want people to come and watch us," added Heffernan. "That's the most important thing, that people get behind the local teams.

"They're a bunch of young lads who are wanting learn and doing well the league, so they should get behind that."

Elsewhere, the Furness Senior Cup takes priority, with Askam United continuing their defence of the trophy in a home quarter-final against Furness Premier League champions Croftlands Park.

Walney Island and GSK Ulverston Rangers meet in an all-West Lancashire League last eight clash at Tummerhill, while there are still two outstanding second-round ties to be played as well.

They see Swarthmoor Social host Crooklands Casuals and Millom at home to Dalton United. The winners of those ties play Furness Cavaliers and Vickerstown reserves respectively.