ROSS Speight has warned Middlewich Town’s players that rivals will be more determined to beat them after the Witches reached the Cheshire League One summit.

They came from behind to win 6-3 at AFC Macclesfield last weekend, and start this Saturday’s encounter with Windle Labour two points clear of Daten.

“We’re the team to beat,” reflected the co-manager.

“We’ve set high standards, and the challenge now is to maintain them.

“If we do, then it won’t matter who we’re playing.”

Middlewich hope to protect an unbeaten record on their travels when they head to St Helens after winning four of their six away league games.

That run was in danger of ending though when they went 3-1 down shortly after the interval last Saturday.

Doubles for leading goal-scorer Sam Wakefield, Rory Gorton and substitute Nathan Devaney made sure it didn’t.

Speight said: “It was 1-1 at half-time and I reminded the lads of what I wanted to see them do in possession; that’s to remain calm and be patient because we’d created plenty of chances.

“They did the opposite, and conceded two goals in five minutes.

“However we got back on track and deserved to win.”

None of the Witches’ rivals for promotion played after heavy rainfall left pitches across the county waterlogged.

However AFC Macclesfield host visiting teams at All Hallows Catholic College, which has an artificial surface, and so Middlewich took advantage.

Speight added: “We want to collect maximum points every time we play, and that means we aren’t concerned with what’s happening elsewhere.

“We can’t control other games anyway, and prefer to concentrate on what we’re doing.

“So far this season that’s meant producing consistent performances, something that’s reflected in the table.”