Avenue boss Phil Sharpe has told his players not to throw away their crucial win over promotion rivals Stocksbridge Park at Skelmersdale on Saturday.

Last week's victory over the second-placed Steels came on the back of a win at Clitheroe and has restored confidence to the Horsfall Stadium side following a dip in form.

Now Sharpe insists his side, who have returned to the play-off spots, must capitalise with a third successive win in West Lancashire.

He said: "It is important that we go to Skelmersdale and win because the previous victories will mean less if we don't.

"We beat the team second in the table last Saturday and at the moment Skem' are in the lower third of the division.

"It is no good taking three points in the big games if you can't do the same against the strugglers.

"That by no means suggests it will be an easy task. They have signed Stuart Barlow - who was at Everton and Oldham Athletic - and a couple of other experienced players.

"I have been looking at their record this season. They have scored a lot of goals, just one less than us, but they have conceded a lot as well.

"I'm confident we can go there and get a result. We are in good form but we need to stay at the top of our game."

Avenue's resurgence since the new year has seen them employ a different strike force after Sharpe shuffled his deck.

Utility man Chris Clarke and David Cooke, who spent most of the first half of the season at right back, have been deployed up front.

"Our defence has been very organised, with Neil Redfearn in there. His influence has been very evident. Big Clarkey has done a great job up front and what can you say about Cookey?" added Sharpe.

"He can play anywhere on the park and that has been shown by his performances where ever we ask him to play. I think he has been one of our best players in any of the games he has played this term.

Sharpe also had praise for his flying winger Liam Flynn, who has returned to form.

"It was nice to see Liam back to his best last weekend. He scored the two goals in our win over Stocksbridge.

"He had a little break and has taken a couple of games to get his sharpness back but he looked on the boil against Stocksbridge."

Avenue (from): Skiba, Lennon, Grayston, Wilson, Connor, Shaw, Shuttleworth, Redfearn, Clarke, Cooke, Flynn, Ross, Parke, Farrand.