Former Bradford City player Ian Banks, who has also been assistant manager at Valley Parade, has brought his vast experience to Eccleshill United, and the Eagles are going from strength to strength.

However, after a run that has taken them to within three points of the top with two games in hand, Banks insists he does not want his team to peak too soon.

He said: “We don’t want to be top just at the moment because its not where you are when the race is being run, it’s where you are when they are giving the lollipops out that counts.

“Once you are at the top, you are there to be shot at so we will be quite happy if the clubs above us keep winning as long as we continue our form.

"It is hard to get consistency at this level because it’s hard to get a settled side - midweek away games are always a nightmare.”

The Eagles’ squad has certainly been stretched recently with injuries and unavailability but they have steered relatively clear of problems through suspensions.

Banks has also been shrewd with his additions to the squad as the season has gone on.

Banks added: “We signed Josh McClean last midweek from Thackley - he is a very good young player but he hasn’t been getting a look in since Vince Brockie took over at Thackley, so we moved in for him.

“We had Marcus Edwards out injured at the weekend but we scored six goals without him, so things can’t be that bad.

"If he had played, I think he would have got himself a hat-trick but we have goals in us from all over the park at the moment.

“I think a lot of teams in this league are the same, us included, in that they are good going forward but have problems with the defence.

"We are trying to work on that and tighten up but again, when you can’t field the same side game after game it is difficult to be solid.”