IT HAS been a rollercoaster start to the campaign for Eccleshill United, with either highs or lows and nothing in between.

The Eagles have won two but lost three of their five games, all league fixtures, so they don't know what to expect from today's first foray into knock-out competition at home to Northern League outfit Heaton Stannington in the FA Vase.

Manager Mark Greaves said: "I was very disappointed with the first day of the season but since then it's been a lot better.

"We are a new side and the lads are just starting to gel after four or five games and their attitude has been excellent.

"In games, training and just in general, they have worked hard and been really keen and you can tell that they want to learn and are enjoying it."

The Eagles let a half-time lead slip as they lost 4-3 at home on the opening day of the Toolstation Northern Counties East League season. But they responded with a 7-2 home win in the next game before losing 4-0 at Hemsworth.

It has been all or nothing for Greaves' men as they lost 3-2 at Yorkshire Amateur but then bounced back to win 4-2 at home last Saturday. They have scored lots of goals, which keeps the crowd happy, but have shipped in a fair few as well.

Greaves said: "There were seven goals in our first home game, nine in the second and then six in the third.

"I'm sure that's great for the supporters – especially because we won two of those games – and for the neutrals, but I don't want us to have to score four every time just to win 4-3.

"We knew there were goals in the side from day one and they come from all over. I think there were ten different scorers in pre-season. We don't seem to have an issue with scoring but we've been disappointed with conceding so many.

"We have worked on that in training and we expect to see an improvement soon in that department."