CHURCH ace Levi Wolfenden believes his side can target the top four after a weekend win over Rishton consolidated a strong start to the Lancashire League season.

Church are currently in fourth spot, just five points adrift of second placed Ramsbottom, after five wins from their opening nine games.

MORE TOP STORIES:

And Wolfenden, who took 4-37 in the weekend win over Rishton, is also targeting glory in the shorter format of the game.

Church are the holders in the Moorhouses Brewery 20/20 competition and although their defence of that title began with a defeat in their opening group match to last season’s runners-up Lowerhouse, Wolfenden is convinced his squad can challenge on both fronts.

“We finished joint-third to Enfield in 2012, I think, and if we could match that or maybe take the place below that would be terrific,” said Wolfenden who believes Church have proved durable and very hard to beat in recent seasons “This season we’ve defeated Ramsbottom, come close to beating Burnley, and to have won five games from nine starts is a fine effort.

“We lost a couple of players at the start of the season, but we’ve dug deep and come up with some fine results.”

Their latest victory was a comfortable success over struggling Rishton.

With Wolfenden to the fore the away side were restricted to 104-9 and Usman Tariq’s 55 saw the hosts home by six wickets.

Church are on the road at Accrington in the league on Sunday and will also be bidding to get their 20/20 campaign up and running when they host Haslingden on Friday night.