SILSDEN enter the final eight days of their campaign today and Cobbydalers boss Danny Forrest is satisfied with the progress of his charges.

The former Bradford, Halifax and Guiseley striker has been in charge since November and the Hallmark Security League club have steadily climbed the Division One table, with a run of five victories in the last six games lifting spirits.

"I'm really happy with how April has gone so far as we've been on a great little run," said Forrest.

"On the first day of the month we went to Litherland, who were top of the table, and we beat them 2-1 and that set us up for a run. The only place that we've been done was at Widnes. They were second but they gave us a lot of respect.

"They are a good side but they knew that we'd be a test for them, so they set up differently, and when I spoke to their manager after the game and some of their committee, they were very complimentary.

"I'm really happy because of the nature of the run as we've faced different challenges along the way. We've had to play sides at the top and sides at the bottom, all battling for points and all giving us totally different tests.

"That's been the best part for me because we've played some really good football at times, earned scrappy wins and sometimes just dug in to get the win. It's been down to sheer desire, hunger and persistence and earlier in the season we didn't have that."

The Cobbydalers have another three testing fixtures, away at promotion-chasing Alsager Town today and relegation-threatened basement outfit Ashton Town before ending with a home game against mid-table rivals Cheadle Town next Saturday.

Forrest said: "We've battled to get into the top ten and we just managed to get in there last weekend.

"When I came in I said tenth was the target for us from where we were and I hope we can stay there – but there's a couple of clubs breathing down our necks.

"But the lads don't want the season to end and they're with me in that we don't want to drop our standards now.

"We're not sitting and waiting for the season to end, we're squeezing every last drop out of it."