NIGEL Coates thinks his Colne side are finally reaching the peak of their powers after a "horrendous" start to the season.

The Reds are on an unbeaten run of eight games as they prepare to kick off a trio of games against three of the lowest placed clubs in Division One at Glossop North End tomorrow.

And for Coates, the results are down to the players finally reaching the levels of fitness they should have had at the start of the campaign.

"It took us until the beginning of October to get to what we should have been like in the middle of August," said Coates.

"Pre-season was so badly disrupted with injuries, holidays and players not being together at the same time that the fitness wasn't there.

"I was putting myself on the bench for the first nine games and we'd take the lead in some games but wouldn't be able to hold on because of the lack of fitness.

"We had such a horrendous pre-season that the lads weren't up to speed but they are fitter and stronger now and we have a squad of 20."

Paul Walker's ankle injury will rule him out of the Glossop game and Kieron Roberts is away.

Skipper Scott Gizon is the only long term absentee but is set to return in a couple of weeks.

As for the games coming up, Coates is hoping for a maximum nine points against Glossop, Formby and Atherton Collieries to tee them up nicely for the notoriously tricky Christmas period.

He said: "It's important to get nine points from the next three games because it won't do confidence any harm for the bigger games over Christmas.

"I think we'd be disappointed if we didn't win all the games given the decent run we are on but we can still improve."