HASLINGDEN are aiming to steal a march on the top dogs in the Foster’s Lancashire League tomorrow as eight sides play catch-up on the second reserve date of the campaign.

Of the top four only Graham Knowles men are in action and while his side trail leaders Accrington by 30 points, he knows there is plenty of scope for twists and turns between now and the end of the season.

But he is also aware that his young side needs to learn how to become consistent in order to make a sustained challenge.

Haslingden were well beaten at Burnley last Saturday before they crushed East Lancashire at Bentgate 24 hours later in a game that saw the skipper become only the 21st man in the history of the Lancashire League to pass 10,000 runs.

And he said: “Burnley was a bad result for us but we then followed it up in the right way when we beat East Lancs.

“But make no mistake about it, we are a young side and the lads are learning all of the time and getting better and better for that.

“If you look at Lowerhouse, who are the yardstick for everyone in our league, they have someone stepping up in every game.

“It’s not always the same few people and we need to become like that.

“But there is no reason why we cannot get on a run and really make a push.

“We have a terrific professional in Brenton Parchment and there is a lot of cricket to be played yet.”

Rawtenstall pulled off a stunning win chasing a big score at Ramsbottom last Sunday and they welcome Rishton to the Worswick Memorial Ground as they hunt back-to-back successes, while Enfield aim to return to winning ways when Bacup travel to Dill Hall Lane.

Winless Colne welcome Todmorden to The Horsfield and mates clash at Alexandra Meadows as East Lancashire pro Ockert Erasmus aims to put one over his Boland team-mate Ryan Canning.