HAWCOAT Park do not need any reminding about the threat posed by tomorrow’s opponents Milnthorpe Corinthians.

Trevor Houston’s side suffered a 4-1 defeat at their hands just three weeks ago in the West Lancs League Division One, but a quirk of the fixture list has at least given them an opportunity at exacting quick revenge.

The table-topping Corinthians will head up the A590 with confidence high, having won 10 of their twelve league matches and banging in 54 goals in the process, while only conceding nine.

Hawcoat were on the receiving end of that attacking prowess, but while the result was a 4-1 defeat, the scoreline does not tell the whole story.

Park had Mike Wilkes sent off late on, after which Corinthians scored twice, and at the other end of the field Houston’s side could have easily scored more than the one Mike Melia goal they managed.

Their free-scoring ability is the reason Milnthorpe hold top spot ahead of Poulton and Hurst Green on goal difference, and Houston knows his side will have to be at their best both defensively and in front of goal to have any chance of victory.

“They were good going forward when we played them so we will have to watch them closely,” he said.

“The scoreline didn’t really reflect the game because they scored their last two goals in the last two minutes to make it 4-1. I’m not saying the sending off had anything to do with that, but we definitely had our chances.

“It’s a game we feel we can win, but one thing we can learn from that is that we have to take our chances.”

Houston’s men go into the game on the back of a 1-0 win at Fulwood Amateurs reserves, courtesy of another Melia goal, and if they can string a run of good results together now, they could find themselves right in the mix.

However, finding that consistency has been the problem for a young Maroons team, as their results in October – victory over Wyre Villa, a draw with Lytham, and defeats to Corinthians and Ulverston Rangers – plainly shows.

“We struggled at the start of the season with missing key players, but that was a good opportunity for the young players to get a chance,” said Houston, who is enjoying his debut year as first-team boss after stepping up from running the reserves.

“We found our feet, helped by getting some key players back like Christian Sloan, Elliott Moore and Sam Stephens, and Sam Cunningham has joined us from Furness Rovers, and he’s been a good asset.

“Because we are such a young team we are learning all the time. We are building on the foundations of a good season last year when Scott Ellis had them and they won the President’s Cup.”

Houston’s aim to is improve on last season’s seventh-place finish, while blooding a talented crop of youngsters coming through the ranks.

“The lads have bought into what we are trying to do, and the main thing is to learn as we go along and then take that experience into next season when we go again,” he said.

“The start of the season didn’t go too well, but we have found our feet now and we are going out there and hoping to win every game.”

Houston says the decision of older heads such as Greg Sharp, Craig Salton and Carl Mackay to step down from first-team duties has not only benefited the reserves, but given the likes of talented kids like midfielders Luke Mitchell and Sam Hayes and striker Ben Stoker the chance to step up.

“It has allowed the young lads to get their first taste of West Lancs League football and that is important for the club,” he said. “We have to give the young lads a chance and they are learning all the time.”

Hawcoat’s senior football section is in very good shape as a whole, with both the reserves and A-team top of their respective divisions.

Park reserves hold a two-point lead over Swarthmoor Social ahead of tomorrow’s round of Furness Premier League Premier Division games.

They face a tricky away day at mid-table Haverigg United, and will look to emulate their A-team, who beat Haverigg A 1-0 at Wilson Park last week through Tom Stanwix’s goal.

The A-team head to Park Road tomorrow to face Swarthmoor reserves and hoping to consolidate their lead in Premier Tiles Division One.

Millom’s perfect start to the West Lancs League Division Two season ended last week with their 1-0 defeat to fellow high-fliers Lostock St Gerards reserves. The Devonshire Road side will hope to get back on track and apply the pressure on the leading bunch, when they host Dalton United.

Guy Heffernan’s Holker Old Boys will strive to push themselves further into mid-table security in the North West Counties Division One by defeating Sandbach United at Rakesmoor Lane.

Old Boys drew 0-0 at home to top-four side Alsager to last weekend in a game they could have won, before crashing out of the Lancashire Challenge Trophy in midweek with a 3-0 defeat at AFC Darwen.