FLIXTON are looking to become a force in the Bolton Association after spending the last two seasons finding their feet.

The league new boys finished third bottom in their first campaign in 2008, and took a step backwards last season when they finished 32 points adrift at the bottom. But a change of captain, players and approach has sparked improved results and renewed optimism.

The club, which boasts the best facilities in the Association, looks to be on its way to having a team to match this season with four wins and three defeats from their opening seven games.

They are seventh and handily placed for a push for the top-four finish their ambitious captain Alan Embleton has targeted.

“When I told the players we had 19 league games left and I would like to win 15 of them, they looked at me as if it was a big ask,” he said.

“But I set high standards and you have to have something to aim for.

“I would like to finish in the top four and get a Lancashire Knockout place, and I think we’re capable of it.

“We’ve made a good start with six new players and a couple of juniors coming through well. We needed a change in attitude. Some players weren’t training and it seemed like some didn’t want to play at times.

“Our fielding wasn’t good enough. Tony Kelly has come in and been very prominent in what we have done. We have been a lot stronger in the field, partly because of the work Tony has done and partly because I’ve taken over the captaincy.

“Our problem last season was that we seemed to have learned how to lose games we should have won. We just got into the habit of losing.

“When you’ve got a player (overseas amateur Rudi Kieser) who scored 1,000 runs and took 60 wickets, you shouldn’t be finishing that far at the bottom of the league.

“Rudi left and we’ve brought in Kevin Hogan and Steve Hammond from our feeder club in Australia (Toogerang), as well as Mike King, Tony Kelly and Abi Ahmad who has come from Deane and Derby because he wanted to get back in the Bolton Association. Tom Syddall and Albin Alexander have come through from the juniors and doing well.

“Everyone’s upped their game and everyone wants to play now, so much so that we’ve had a few arguments when people have been left out of the side, which shows we’ve got passion.

“There’s real competition for places now and a real buzz around the club.”

Flixton will get an indication of how far they have come tomorrow when they travel to second-placed Daisy Hill.

“Daisy Hill are a very good side,” said Embleton. “The key is to get the first four or five batsmen out because they are a very strong batting side.”