TOM Bailey has said 1874 Northwich are about to enter the most important seven days of their season so far.

His side host Runcorn Town, currently five points clear at the North West Counties League summit, on Saturday.

A trip to in-form AFC Liverpool, who have risen to eighth place after winning their past three Premier Division matches, then follows.

He said: “The next fortnight is the reason I wanted to come to the club; we’ve got big games one after the other when you consider we have derbies against Witton and Winsford this month as well.

“As a player, you want to be on the pitch in all of them.

“As a striker, I expect to be scoring in them too!

“We know what to expect from Runcorn, and we know we can beat them because we have already this season.

“I’d argue we’re a stronger team now than we were then because we’ve signed the likes of Sam Hare and Dahrius Waldron who have made us better in midfield.”

Bailey was on target 27 times in all competitions when Glossop were promoted as champions two years ago.

In short, he knows what it takes to finish first.

“Our only concern right now should be to pick up six points from the next two games,” said the striker, who increased his goal tally for the campaign to 17 in a 4-2 win at New Mills last weekend.

“If we can do that, then we’ll start a New Year in exactly the position we want.”