Bootle manager Mick McGraa says his side have exceeded his expectation as they look to extend their winning run.
The Bucks returned to league action with a 2-1 win over Widnes, after their previous fixtures falling foul of the weather.
Their triumph took them to within two points of the Northern Premier League West playoffs but talk of the top five has been firmly dismissed by the Bootle boss.
McGraa has only been in situ at Vesty Road since October and he believes the progression is evident.
“With the tight games, they can go either way,” he told Off The Park. “If that was when we first come in, I don’t think we win the game, we’re a different side now with a better mentality.”
Their Christmas period kicks off with an away trip to Newcastle Town, with the nightmare of the defeat to Hednesford fresh in the mind, the Bootle boss has outlined where his need to perform.
McGraa added: “They’re a big strong team, we’ve got to be defensively good but if our front four are at it, I think we can beat most teams and our away record is really good at the minute.
“If we show that, we should be okay. I said it from day one, you’re always going to get those games from Hednesford, it’s still a rebuild and we’re trying to learn from good and bad results, I think we have.
“There will be more Hednesford-like games, we will lose, it’s how you bounce back and we have really well.”
A clash against rivals City of Liverpool ends the year, while another derby against Prescot Cables kicks off the calendar year.
The prospect excites McGraa and he explains how the opening two months in charge have exceeded his initial hopes.
“It’s massive and two derby games, a team you share a ground with and a team at the top for most of the season, it doesn’t get much bigger,” he said. “The lads will be up for it, I don’t think it’ll be a problem, it’ll be how we set-up and deal with the occasion.
“They’ve exceeded the expectations to be honest because when we come in, we had so many players leave at the start, we were bringing players in and trying to bring in the right player.
“Just to be in and around it is a massive achievement from the players, you’re trying to build relationships on and off it and where we are now, it’s a testament to the lads.”
