Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Finding consistency is the name of the game for Maltby Main, according to Andy Dawson.
Dawson and Lee Whitehead’s men have endured mixed fortunes since their best period of form in October.
The Maltby joint boss is hopeful January will provide a turning point in their campaign.
“We were in a massive transition (in the summer),” Dawson told Non League Yorkshire.
“When we came in there were only five players from last season so it was going to take a while to get settled.
“You will have seen players have moved on and players have come in.
“We’ve had some great results and we have had some shockers so it has been very inconsistent but I think it was always going to be like that when we are trying to gel a side together that hasn’t played together before.
“We have five home games (four in the league) this month so hopefully we can put our marker down and start climbing a little bit up the table.
“Top ten is a minimum but I think we have to aim higher than that.
“We’re only two points off tenth place so you have to aim higher.
“I’m not saying we’re going to challenge at the top end as I think it would be a bit of a stretch at the minute but we have to take each game at a time and try and get some consistency and a run going.
“When we spoke last time (in October) we were seven or eight games unbeaten. Since then we had mixed results. We’ll win one and then lose one.”
Since taking the helm, Dawson and Whitehead have been busy on the recruitment front.
Dawson hopes Maltby’s squad is now settling down.
“We knew it was a strong league when we came in,” he said.
“Players have come over and it hasn’t worked out but that’s the nature of the beast at this level anyway.
“People come in and move out.
“We have two lads injured but we have 21 or 22 lads to choose from so we’re in a position of strength now.
“Maybe three or four weeks we had five or six injuries and we were running with 13 and it is difficult.”
Weather-permitting, Maltby host Ian Richards’ flying Stocksbridge Park Steels side in the titanic Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup quarter-final tie on Wednesday night.
“They are on a cracking run and everything they touch seems to be a victory,” Dawson added.
“We know it is going difficult.
“Whilst they are on a great run in the league, a cup game is totally different for me.
“It is almost a free hit and you have to take it for exactly what it is.
“You have to go out and give everything.”