These are manager Steve Settle's note from tonight's programme, available on the gate for £2.

Good evening everyone and welcome to tonight’s league fixture against Padiham. We hope that everyone connected with our visitors tonight enjoys the evening and following tonight’s game, we wish you well for the remainder of the season.

Of course, it is only a few weeks since we played Padiham in the reverse fixture and whilst we have tried to wipe it from our memory, I’m hoping the lads might remember it enough to have some added motivation for tonight’s game! Following the game, we had some tough conversations about the direction we were heading in and I’m delighted to say that since that day we have won 3 from 3!

Last week’s game away at Charnock Richard was very close to our best performance of the season. We asked the boys to take the game to them whilst implementing a plan to cope with the league’s leading scorer. Had we have gone in at the break 5-1 up there would not have been a single complaint. We absolutely dominated the game and we were only guilty of being complacent in front of goal mixed in with some astonishing saves! The second half was a professional display in which we limited them to half chances really until the last minute when they could have snatched an undeserved draw!

This Friday just gone we were backed by a brilliant support away at Abbey Hey. After going behind early again we showed some bottle to keep plugging away and score 2 tremendous goals. The first from Ben Steer was a stunning goal, cutting in from the left and rocketing a shot into the top corner! Ben has added some spectacular goals to his game this season and we’re delighted he seems to be having his own ‘goal of the season’ competition. The second goal was equally impressive, Matt Eckersley rising high to power in a header! It’s been extremely satisfying to get Matt back in a West shirt. It’s no coincidence we look much more solid with him in the team! It was also pleasing to get Mark Rogers back in the squad on Friday. He will add that calmness in the run in that we have missed for large parts of this season.

We also received some welcome news that the league will be extending the season by a couple of days so. It will allow us to play the eagerly anticipated Maine Road game on the bank holiday! It will also be our final match of the season. It would be fantastic to try and break our current attendance record so please spread the word!

Fingers crossed this week will allow us to keep the winning run going as we look to try and salvage a top 10 finish from this season!

As always, thanks for the support and enjoy the game!
- Setts