Whitchurch Alport go into a massive double header of league games buoyed by a seventh successive win away at Chadderton on Saturday.

Luke Goddard’s men will try to become the first team to take anything at all from runaway league leaders Silsden’s ground this Saturday, and that’s followed quickly by a rearranged Monday night home match against Sandbach United (7.45pm).

The 3-1 win at Chadderton came at a cost with vice- captain Elliot Ledwards the recipient of a really bad challenge in first-half stoppage time which left him hobbling out of the ground.

But manager Luke Goddard was pleased to see his side continuing their winning sequence – the best since the club joined the North West Counties League in 2015.

“I felt we were comfortable, especially in the second half,” he said. “In terms of effort and graft, I’d say that was an eight or a nine out of 10. Quality wise, you’d have to say it was lower than that.

“Before the match we told the players to find the pockets and squeeze them. We started exactly like that and scored a great goal but after that we sat back and let them come on to us.

“At half-time we had our hand forced a bit with the Elliot injury which the referee handled really badly. He’s allowed their player to escape unpunished by blowing for half-time a second or two after the challenge which was horrific really, and we’ll mark him down accordingly for that.

“It riles me that he’s telling my captain to ‘jog on’ when he questions a decision which he’s perfectly entitled to do. You can’t officiate a game at this level like that; you don’t gain the respect of the players behaving like that.

“We could and perhaps should have scored a couple more but it’s great to see the lads graft for one another and grind out another three points.

“What’s also pleasing is the depth and quality we have in the squad and that was demonstrated by the bench we had. Every one of those lads could play anywhere in the First Division – and some even higher than that – and to have that in your locker when there’s a busy fixture list ahead is great for us.”

The next one comes at a side who have won 21 of their 24 league matches to date – including every game at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium – but that cuts no ice with the Reds boss.

“It’s the same three points against Silsden as it is against Chadderton, Nelson or whoever,” he said. “We’ll go there with a terrific following and try to win the match, it’s as simple as that.

“You want to test yourselves against the top teams but let’s not forget we’re one of them ourselves. We’re still in fourth place in the league as all the teams above us won comfortably, and it would put out a big statement if we were able to get anything at Silsden.

“They’ve won their last two home matches 6-0 and there will be a big crowd – but I think we’re capable of causing them problems.

“The lads are high on confidence, we have strong momentum built from this winning run, so we’ll go there with no fear. Sandbach follows 48 hours later and no matter what happens in either of those matches, there will still be 57 points to fight for.”

Sandbach could play a couple of familiar faces at Yockings. Luke Walley and Chris Jackson are now in the United ranks having transferred from Alport, and Steve Jones – the former Northern Ireland international who spent time on loan at Whitchurch last season – has also been playing recently for the Cheshire outfit.

The match is sponsored by Vapafone and Ron Ingall is the matchball sponsor.