AMBITIOUS Holker manager Scott Redhead is gunning for a top-two finish and promotion from the North West Counties Division One league.

Redhead believes his bubbling side have the capability to achieve that goal, and with a run of three home games starting against Widnes tomorrow – the side he made a winning start to his Old Boys managerial career against in November – putting points in the bag at this stage is vital.

The Stags, looking to stretch their unbeaten run to 11 games, welcome Jordan Brough, Ben Rebello and Mike Rushton back in the fold for the clash.

Holker then face Daisy Hill in a rearranged match on Tuesday before hosting leaders Barnton in a titanic clash next Saturday.

“I want to push for the top two places, not the play-offs. We’ve still got Hanley to play twice who potentially should win this league and Barnton as well. It is going to be tough,” said Redhead, who puts the great run down to team spirit.

“It’s the same old saying, when you are winning confidence is high and the lads are keen, and that’s where we are at the minute.

“On Saturday the top four all play each other. Someone is going to drop points there, so again I can’t stress enough to the lads it’s an opportunity for us to claw something back.

“I’m ambitious and I said to the lads you’ve got to be the same, you have got to want to win and go up if you want to test yourself.

“I believe in my own ability and I do like coaching, I am very hands on. I like to set up how I want to play and if I can watch a team that we are playing against, and do a bit of homework then I’ll do that.

“We are not just there by luck. We do our stuff on the training pitch, and do our homework on the opposition as well.”

Old Boys, who sit fifth in the table, showed their top-two potential with a cracking 2-1 win at Stockport Town last week, and as Redhead said: “Saturday was a massive win for us against third-in-the-league so onwards an upwards.

“I had all three strikers unavailable through work. We weren’t at our strongest going into the game – that was the toughest since I’ve been in charge.

“But the lads just stick together. I can’t knock them as a group and whoever we bring in, and we have brought lads in from the reserves, we are where we are. We are in a great position at the minute.”

He added: “Saturday and Tuesday are two games which realistically if we want to be up there we have got to be looking to be taking maximum points.

“As teams look at the league now they will think Holker are in a good position. We are obviously doing well. We are unbeaten in 10, so teams are bound to start upping their game when they play us.”

A cracking match looks to be on the cards in the Bay West Lancs Division Two when Millom host Furness Cavaliers at Devonshire Road tomorrow, while in Division One high-flying Hawcoat Park will be hoping to pick up points when Hurst Green visit.