DAISY Hill manager Craig Thomas believes his record-breaking side will not suffer the same collapse as last season.

The New Sirs men, who are on a remarkable seven-match winning streak, could go top of the North West Counties League Division One tomorrow with a victory at Widnes Vikings.

They were in a similar position at this stage last season before they lost a number of players to other clubs and their results suffered.

“At this point last year we were top of the league and our players got raided by other teams,” he said.

“This year the squad is better and the pitch is better, so we know we are going to keep the squad together.”

Third-placed Daisy are part of an early-season success story in the division with local rivals Atherton Colls top of the league and Atherton LR having a decent season so far in eighth.

“The most pleasing thing for us is we are on this run even though we are riddled with injuries,” said Thomas, whose side will play tomorrow’s game in the Widnes rugby league club’s stadium.

Local lad Andrew Buckley is leading from the front with plenty of goals this season while behind him 21-year-old Jake Foster is impressing in central midfield and Danny Dalton is solid at the heart of the defence.

“We are particularly pleased to see Jake performing as high as he is because he plays with a pacemaker, which he’s had since he was 16,” added Thomas.

“Andrew’s in his 30s now but he is a one of the fittest at the club and a great example to the younger players, and Danny was Runcorn’s captain last season and has stepped down to join us.

“But rather than being about individuals it has been a real team effort.”

Daisy’s latest success was a 2-0 victory at AFC Darwen on Wednesday night – sealed with second-half goals from Elliot Hailwood and Foster – which surpassed the club’s six straight wins in 1983 and meant they are on their best winning run since the league was founded in 1982.

Colls, who host Daisy in the league two weeks tonight, willl go top if they maintain their 100 per cent winning run in the top-of-the-table clash at Hanley Town, who have played four games more than them.

Hanley have enjoyed a surge up the table in recent weeks following the return of their star striker Theo Stair, who currently tops the league goalscoring charts, with Colls striker Mark Battersby hot on his heels.

LR, who are at home to Daisy in the Lancashire Cup on Tuesday night, will be looking to end a three-game winless run tomorrow at home to third-bottom Northwich Flixton Villa, who have not won since their opening match of the season and are on a five-match losing streak.