WE really want to make a big challenge in February and get ourselves in the play-off positions.

Results in January allowed us to consolidate our position in the table but if we had lost games we would be playing catch-up.

The team did well last month. We could have lost to Workington because we didn't play well and we could have beaten Blyth Spartans at the weekend after our second-half performance - but we deserved to win against Kettering and Hinckley.

It was a fair number of points from those games. We have to try for the same kind of run next month.

If we do, there's nothing to stop us getting into the play-offs. Fourth-placed Hyde have only 13 games left so they won't be playing mid-week, which means every time we play in mid-week we can gain on them.

We have seven games in February, including three in mid-week. It's a tough schedule with one game after another but sometimes players prefer that and to play twice a week.

It's something to look forward to, there's nothing like going from one game to the next, especially if you are doing well and making progress in the league.

We have got a decent squad of players to cope with that number of fixtures although we can't afford too many suspensions, like we have coming up with Chris Smith and had with Adam Burley for the Hinckley game, or injuries.

However, we have fallen behind a little bit in the league games and want to make them up as soon as possible.

We don't want to play catch-up and would rather be in the mix like Hyde. They have played four more games than us and it's a better position to play your next game from.

If we are not in the play-offs by the end of February we won't have had a very good run but we have put ourselves in a great position. The longer we are in the play-offs, the better chance we have of mounting a challenge towards Droylsden and Kettering.

However, this league is tough from top to bottom and there are no easy games. There were games last season when you were almost expected to get the three points.

Scarborough have had 10 points deducted this year but they are a decent side and we have still got them to play but we would be disappointed not to beat Lancaster.

They are the only team who you are really going into the game expecting to beat.

All the other games are very tight. Vauxhall Motors and Leigh RMI have improved from last season and they are no pushovers.

But, in saying that, we have improved from last season as well and are more than capable of winning those games.

Waiting for Tamworth and Welling to replay in the FA Trophy has not been great but these things happen.

It would have been nice to do two training sessions this week in preparation for Saturday but instead we will just get one tomorrow and we have to deal with it.