In-form Ross Towler believes team spirit has been crucial in helping Keighley rise out of their slump.

The Lawkholme Laners made it five games unbeaten in Division Two with a comfortable seven-wicket win at Windhill to climb up to seventh.

It has been a transformation in fortunes after the club had dropped to second-from-bottom and Towler, who was chief destroyer at Windhill with 4-30, believes the way his side have stuck together has been important.

He said: “It’s difficult to say what we’ve been doing differently.

“It was disappointing to go on the bad run but the positive for us was to maintain good team spirit.

“That might be a cliche but we always felt like a win was just around the corner.

“There was no real rhyme or reason for our bad form. We’ve come up against good teams and, at key moments, things did not go our way. If you are not doing all three disciplines right it’s easy to go on a run as Bradford League teams are so competitive.

“We’ve another tough run of games coming up but I still think we’re not firing on all cylinders and I’d like to think there is more to come from us.”

Towler, who was deputising for unavailable skipper Richard Robinson, took his tally to 16 wickets in four games at Windhill.

Good support from Steve Reape (3-4) – making a rare appearance back in the first team – Joe Stead (2-30) and Amjid Hussain (1-20) helped dismiss the hosts for 96 before a quickfire 37no from Hussain saw Keighley home.

The victory was the fifth successive time Keighley have secured maximum bowling points, despite not being able to call on opener Max Davidson, whose elbow injury might mean he is unable to bowl for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, Keighley II slipped to a five-wicket defeat at home to champions Farsley II.

Allan Birkett top-scored with 67 as the hosts reached 177-8 but an unbeaten 55 from Steve Plummer and 39 from Stuart Kirk saw Farsley home.

Keighley firsts entertain Gom-ersal on Saturday, while the seconds are at Morley.