JOHN Bailey just can't believe his luck in recapturing sharp-shooter Carl Howarth.

The 22-year-old striker has scored seven goals in the last seven games for Nelson - including the last gasp winner over Darwen on Wednesday night.

It has taken the Blues on a run of one loss in their last eight games - with six wins - and Bailey is more than impressed with the former Everton trainee who left Nelson to join Burscough and Rossendale before landing back at Victoria Park in the last couple of months.

"The goals he has scored have tended to be important ones," said boss Bailey. "I think he has scored in the last five minutes four or five times for us and he has been great.

"He is looking sharp and it won't have done him any harm playing at a higher level."

Nelson have finally got the consistency Bailey has craved all season but fifth is probably the highest the Blues can finish.

"We have five games left and I wish we had ten now!" said Bailey. "We have a hard run-in including Stand, Alsager and Stone Dominoes but we will be trying to finish as high up as we can.

"I have changed one or two personnel and have finally got some consistency but it is a bit too late. However we want to finish well to take it into next season."

He has also made a couple of additions, signing former Rossendale striker Dave Gray, one-time Bacup skipper Damian Moran and midfielder Brad Pates from Bamber Bridge.

Nelson are at home to Leek CSOB tomorrow.