TREVOR Houston is hoping Hawcoat Park can avoid another post-Christmas hangover in their bid to secure promotion to the West Lancashire League Premier Division.

Going into the final match before the Christmas break, at home to fellow promotion hopefuls Lytham Town tomorrow, Hawcoat are just five points behind leaders CMB with six games in hand and well in contention for a top-two finish.

They have been here before though and manager Houston wants his side to use those previous experiences of falling away in the second half of the season to ensure Park do not fall short again.

“I’m very happy with the start we’ve had and consistency has been the key, but we’re not counting our chickens yet,” said Houston.

“We’ve been in this position before; we’ve either started the season well and ended it poorly, or started poorly and ended well.

“So it’s about getting that consistency right throughout the season, not just halfway through, which is key for us.

“We’ll have a couple of training sessions during Christmas as well, so that will keep us ticking over and get the mindset right for next year for one big push to the end of the season.”

Promotion would cap off a memorable few seasons for the club, which includes the reserves winning the Furness Premier League Premier Division in 2017/18 and the A-team lifting the Furness Junior Cup.

The first team are benefitting from some promising young players coming through the youth team too, with Frankie Ellis the latest to step up to the West Lancs competition.

“Over the last few seasons, all three teams have won trophies,” said Houston.

“We’ve got a good youth system and a few good youngsters training with now. The future looks bright for us all at the moment.

“They’re all young, but they’re relatively experienced in the league. They’ve been playing in this league and at this level for a few years.”

Another product of Park’s youth development programme, Elliott Moore, has been leading the way up front for them too, netting 15 goals already this season.

But another key factor for Hawcoat has been their defence, which has conceded just 14 league goals, and Houston wants more of the same tomorrow.

“Lytham are up there with us, so it’s a must-win game just to open that gap a little bit at the top of the table,” said Houston.

“We’ve always had tough games against them, so we know what they’re all about. It’s just a case of us getting our act in order.”

A strong travelling contingent of supporters could be joining Holker Old Boys tomorrow when they head to Nelson for their final game before Christmas.

The club have booked a bus for the match and Kevin Watkin’s side will be aiming to give those making the trip with them an early Christmas present.

Holker were not in action last Saturday due to their match away to Ashton Town being postponed due to a frozen pitch, but will no doubt still be buoyant after moving out of the North West Counties League First Division North relegation zone following a 2-1 win at home to Bacup Borough the previous weekend.

Nelson are seven points ahead of Holker in 15th, so a win would do much to pull Old Boys closer to the group of teams above them.

There is an intriguing West Lancashire League Premier Division clash, where Vickerstown make the trip to Fulwood Amateurs.

Dave Round’s side are just two points behind their opponents heading into this match and a win could see them move back into the top six.

Millom face a big test in Division One when they head to leaders CMB, while Crooklands Casuals are at home to Kendal County and Ulverston Rangers travel to bottom side Wyre Villa.

There is a derby in Division Two, with Dalton United hosting Furness Cavaliers, and Furness Rovers are at Croston Sports.

The Furness Premier League is on a break until January 5.