NATHAN Astle believes confidence will be the key as he inspires a long-awaited revival at Accrington and plots a course for mid-table respectability.

The wooden spoon has taken up permanent residence at Thorneyholme Road in recent years, with Accrington finishing rock bottom of the EW Cartons Lancashire League for the past three seasons.

But, if it's anything to do with Astle, that won't be the case this summer.

And there is already ample evidence to suggest that the popular Kiwi will get his way.

Tomorrow, Accrington face a huge test of their new-found self-belief with a game against title-chasing East Lancs at Alexandra Meadows.

But Astle isn't unduly concerned as he reckons the transformation is well under way.

"Confidence is growing and that is the important thing. They haven't had that for the last couple of seasons," he said.

"We made a couple of signings which have strengthened the batting and we are bowling and fielding reasonably well.

"I am trying to get them to be more competitive and I'll be trying to win a couple of games myself."

It's a fact that, if Accrington win just two more matches, they will have equalled last summer's meagre total of just five victories.

But the New Zealand star knew what he was taking on before he arrived and was ready for the challenge, even though he was absent for a large part of the month, away on international duty. "Fortunately I only missed one league game, because it is the league that is the priority and the main aim was to get them off the bottom," he said.

"I knew they had finished there in the last few years and, while I know we are not going to be second or third, we can certainly get away from the bottom."

Having been knocked out of both the Worsley Cup and the new inter-league challenge - by decent opposition in the shape of Ramsbottom and Werneth respectively - Accrington's only concern now is their league position.

So they can be single minded as they visit East Lancs, no doubt recalling that one of their rare wins in 1996 was achieved against the Blackburn side.

East Lancs have made an excellent start and are eager to go one better than last season's second place.

But Astle added: "It's a shame that we are out of the two cups but the league is our priority.

"And if we can restrict them to a reasonable score, then we'll have a chance."

In contrast, life doesn't look like getting any easier for struggling Church, who are already being tipped as contenders to take over the wooden spoon.

Church lost three games out of three over the Bank Holiday weekend and had to call on Astle as sub pro when they were battered by Walsden in the inter-league challenge on Monday.

Tomorrow they are at home to table-topping Haslingden, with professional Brendan Creevey expected to be fit after seeing the physio last weekend with an arm injury.

Rawtenstall, who share bottom spot with Church, also face tough opposition in the shape of Lowerhouse.

The fixtures provide an intriguing line-up, top half v bottom half, with the top seven teams all playing opposition from the lower half of the table.

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