ECCLESHILL United boss Sean Regan is delighted with the way his squad have pulled together and put a poor start to the campaign behind them.

Six games into the Toolstation Northern Counties East League season, the Eagles were 12th in Division One having taken just over one point per game.

Going into today's trip to basement outfit Brigg Town, they are now fifth and are averaging a shade under two points each match.

That turn-around in such a short space of time was brought about by a run of seven straight league victories.

Regan's men were knocked out of the Buildbase FA Vase during that spell and have since lost in the league before exiting the West Riding County Cup in midweek.

Yet the confidence is still there – as is the expectation as they look to begin another run with a win at Brigg.

Regan said: "We (he and his assistant manager, former Bantams player Des Hamilton) realised that we had a good squad early on and that it was just a matter of stringing a few wins together, so we weren't concerned after a couple of games.

"The best thing about the run after that was that we did it with a few lads out injured, some away on holidays and Charlie (Flaherty, last season's player of the year) suspended for three games.

"Chris Lever and Ben Hardy have been out as well. Ben had a long holiday booked because at the start of the season he didn't know he was coming to Eccy, so it never crossed his mind.

"Ben has done really well and having players like him helps us. When you have a combination of players all out, it normally takes its toll, but our lads kept together and kept getting results."

With the Eagles now in the play-off places, the question is whether they can sustain their challenge and be genuine promotion contenders at the end of the season.

Regan said: "We're in the top five and have games in hand on some of the clubs above us and we've pushed for that. We've pushed hard.

"But we never talk about promotion because at this stage we just want to keep the winning mentality, keep picking up points and keep winning tight games that we would have lost last season.

"Everybody has targets and I get that – but we are just taking it one game at a time and the confidence is still growing.

"I know it's a cliché but, literally, that's our outlook and I think that's right because there's still an awful long way to go this season."