KEIGHLEY chairman Gary Fawcett believes last Sunday’s last-gasp 23-22 win at home to North Wales Crusaders was one of the best he’s seen at Cougar Park.

And the club’s winning start to their league campaign has reinforced his belief that an immediate return to the Championship is within their grasp.

Paul March’s side boast a 100 per cent league record after four matches and will aim to extend that winning sequence at London Skolars this weekend.

Fawcett has been encouraged with the way the team has responded to being bundled out of the Challenge Cup and iPro Sport League One Cup.

He said: “We know better than to get carried away so early in the season, but the signs that what we had hoped for are beginning to shine through.

“Our head coach has assembled a squad that seems to have the right blend of experience and youth and last Sunday’s game was the opportunity to prove it.

“Make no mistake, North Wales being bolstered by four Warrington first-team players made them very dangerous opponents and the way the match went proved this.

“Our prediction was that it was going to be tight, probably two points in it, but no-one foresaw such excitement in the final three minutes when from four points behind we took a two-point lead, only to be pegged back to 22-22 with less than a minute to go.

“Then, such was our determination and dominance in the second half, we created a chance for Danny Jones to put over a drop goal just as the final hooter went.

“The lucky people to be at Cougar Park last Sunday afternoon witnessed a real sporting treat. It was an outstanding game – one of the best I’ve seen at Cougar Park.”

Fawcett said the two cup defeats have served to spur the team on in the league.

He explained: “I’m still disappointed that we were dumped out of both cup competitions.

“I felt we had a real opportunity to win the iPro Sport League Cup and have a party at Blackpool.

“It hurt to be knocked out of the two competitions within two weeks and I know it hurt the team.

“What we needed was a reaction and, so far, we have got exactly what we were looking for – a hungry team with ever increasing confidence who are going about their job in a professional manner.

“What we need to do now is consolidate this winning run with a result at the Skolars and then back to Cougar Park on May 10 for another result against Coventry Bears. 

“People will be expecting these teams to be weaker than the opposition we have faced so far but we are assuming nothing.  There will be no complacency from our team in these games.

“We should not be in this league after what happened at the end of last season but we are and we must ensure that we are out of it at the end of this season. 

“My desired outcome is to finish as league leaders, dispose of the opposition in the first v second play-off final to win promotion, secure the squad for Championship 2016 and then we all go on a well deserved holiday. 

“I sincerely hope that's the objective of all the members of our squad.  There's a long way to go yet but let's focus and get the job done in style.”

Meanwhile, Matt Bailey will miss the next four to six weeks after rolling his ankle and suffering ligament damage in the warm-up last weekend, although he does not require surgery.

Centre Danny Lawton is waiting to hear back from the fracture clinic after skin ripped off his elbow against North Wales and he will also miss out this weekend.

Bailey and Lawton will be replaced by Rikki Sheriffe, who has signed a permanent deal until the end of the season, and Ryan Patchett against London Skolars and Josh Lynam has been given the all-clear to play despite being poked in the eye against North Wales.

* COUGARS winger Gavin Duffy is to officially begin his 2015-16 testimonial season tomorrow with a launch night upstairs in the hospitality suite at Cougar Park with a 7.30pm for 8pm start.

Duffy has played at Keighley for ten years, making over 160 appearances, scoring 57 tries and featuring in three Grand Finals.