FOOTBALL is a results-driven business and in that respect, the most important thing to take away from last Saturday's Nationwide North game against Runcorn FC Halton was the win.

I thought the performance was below par but at the end of the day, we are left consoling ourselves with the fact that we've got three points and it keeps us in and around the play-off area.

We've pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the last two home games with Les Hines coming up trumps for us. I think we'll now have to start calling him last-minute-Les.

We scored two good goals and the quality of them was due to the creative talents of Tom Warmer. He played in Leon Kelly for the first goal and it was a super finish, while he's sent over the ball for the second and the finish and execution from Les was exceptional.

Runcorn were a difficult side and they have experienced a rough time of it of late. They were not going to come here and lie down.

Three points is the most important thing but we need to get to the next level and that's what we are striving to do. Recent games have not produced particularly inspiring and exhilarating football, the type we played earlier this season, but we want to get back there.

We are trying to please everybody. We want good performances, to get results, to get players back from injury and back to fitness, and that is a heck of a lot to pull off.

We are six points off the league leaders Harrogate with a game in hand and we've progressed in the two major cup competitions that are left open to us. That's not a bad position to be in.

Two players that have shown a lot of hard work and endeavour in the last few weeks are Rob Warner and Les Hines. Both have had to fulfil wing-back duties when we have played the five along midfield.

I played in that role towards the end of my career and I found it difficult to take on board.

From an attacking point of view, you had a duty to get on the back post to put the ball in the back of the net and then in the next breath expected to get back on your own goal line to clear the danger. There is a lot of involvement along the full length of the pitch.

If you ask Rob or Les, they would like to be working within a 4-4-2 system. I feel particularly sorry for Rob. In the early part of the season up to the Stafford game, I thought his performances were outstanding and I have not seen many full-backs in the Conference, including the top division, matching it.

But he got that kick on his foot and it's been very painful for him. He has battled on gamely, but eventually it does slow you down and bite into your level of performance.

Rob's performances have not been effective as before but I'm certain they will return. He is a super lad, honest, conscientious and wants to do well.

And with Les, I don't think I've seen a better user of the ball at non-league league level for a long, long while, certainly from a full-back position.