ASTLEY and Tyldesley are on course to finish their final season in the Bolton Association with a top-six finish.

The Gin Pit men have been one of the surprise packages of the season after finishing in the bottom six last year.

Currently sixth, they have been transformed and are looking good to cement their place in the top group when the league splits into three sections.

They finish the regular season with games against three teams in the bottom half of the table, starting with Worsley away tomorrow followed by Little Hulton and Golborne at home.

Captain Jimmy Cutt sees it as a good chance to beat off the challenge of a number of clubs immediately behind them and cement a top-six spot after every team has played each other.

But he stressed the need to maintain their standards in every game.

"The goal is to finish in the top six and if we win our next three games we'll do it," said Cutt who took eight wickets in last Saturday's seven-wicket victory over Daisy Hill.

"Then we'll have five games against the top teams when we'll have a crack at finishing as high as we can.

"We've got to get there first though. On paper the teams we are playing in the last three games are below us so we are capable of winning those games.

"But we have a habit of competing better against teams ahead of us and slipping up against teams below us.

"All three teams we have to play have players capable of winning games, but we have a good chance."

While A&T – who will end their 80-year membership of the Association at the end of this season to join the new Greater Manchester League – have outperformed what Cutt was asking of them in pre-season, he says he is not surprised by their successful season so far.

"In pre-season I spoke about finishing in the middle section because you try not to put too much pressure on yourselves.

"Last year we finished in the bottom six by a point I think it was. But we won most of our final five games and finished the season really well.

"We started training early this year and we carried that momentum into this season.

"I know everyone says it but it really is a genuine team effort at Astley and Tyldesley.

"And we've shown what a good team we are by being the only team to beat Edgworth this season and we've beaten Bury. We deserve to be where we are.

"We have some good players within that team effort. Our overseas Aussie Travis Wordsworth has batted really well throughout the season along with Hemant Patel and Dave Harrison, and Jordan O'Malley and Nathan Johnston have bowled really well.

"But all 11 are capable of influencing the result and that's been our strength."