JOHN Brough believes North Leigh have an opportunity to build a head of steam in one of their busiest periods, writes Matthew Bruce.

The Millers ended a six-match winless streak with a 2-1 victory at Salisbury City in Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West on Saturday, before hosting basement side Bridgwater Town last night.

Brough’s side, whose league campaign was interrupted by lengthy runs in both the Emirates FA Cup and Buildbase FA Trophy, have as many as four games in hand on some of the sides around them.

Three matches into a scheduled nine this month, and with lowly Yate Town the visitors this weekend, the Millers boss is hopeful his side can mount a charge toward the play-off positions.

“It’s important we get into a rhythm while we’re playing Saturday-Tuesday every week,” said Brough.

“It’s a big ask of them to perform at that level twice a week, but the squad we have is very strong.

“We aim to win as many games as we can and hopefully that will take us into the top five by the end of the season.

“It’s all about mindset. It’s one thing to go and win at Salisbury in front of 800 fans, but it’s just as important to do it against Bridgwater when there’s barely 60 people there.”

Struggling Yate are without a win in six games and were held to a 1-1 draw at home to relegation-threatened Wantage Town on Saturday.

But Brough warned his side not to be fooled by league positions.

He said: “They’re not easy games – they never are in this division.

“The sides down at the bottom will scrap for everything and make life difficult for you.”

“But we should be good enough to deal with it.”

On Saturday, the Millers fell behind on six minutes, when Justin Bennett emphatically fired home for Salisbury.

North Leigh’s equaliser did not arrive until the 71st minute, when they capitalised on an error by Alexander Bass. His poor kick fell to George Seacole who, from more than 35 yards, passed the ball into the net with the goalkeeper trying in vain to get back.

The second arrived eight minutes later as Seacole raced forward and clipped the ball past Bass from 12 yards.

Matt Sysum was sent off for North Leigh on 88 minutes, but they held on.

North Leigh: Agboola, Else, Hopkins, Turk, Hole, Sysum, Gray, L Williams, Seacole, Cook (M Williams 31), Lymn. Subs not used: D James, R James, Platt, Thompson.

Attendance: 738.

LATEST TABLE

Division 1 South & West

P W D L F A Pts

Hereford 25 22 3 0 71 18 69

Tiverton Tn 25 16 6 3 59 31 54

Evesham Utd 25 16 3 6 59 29 51

Mangotsfield Utd 23 15 2 6 45 33 47

Swindon Smarine 25 13 6 6 52 32 45

Salisbury 25 14 2 9 62 39 44

Taunton Tn 21 14 3 4 56 21 42

Winchester City 23 12 1 10 46 41 37

Shortwood Utd 23 11 4 8 43 42 37

Bideford 26 10 6 10 45 40 36

North Leigh 21 10 5 6 44 36 35

Didcot Tn 25 9 8 8 48 45 35

Wimborne Tn 23 10 3 10 39 40 33

Bishops Cleeve 24 8 5 11 38 52 29

Larkhall Ath 24 6 9 9 37 38 27

Yate Tn 24 6 4 14 27 48 22

Slimbridge 25 5 7 13 29 52 22

Paulton Rovers 24 6 3 15 32 42 21

Barnstaple Tn 24 6 2 16 23 39 20

AFC Totton 26 4 5 17 25 63 17

Wantage Tn 25 1 7 17 20 69 10

Bridgwater Tn 24 2 4 18 17 67 10