TOP of the table, scoring freely and with one of the division’s best defences, manager Leon Knight likes what he sees from his Barnton side.

And after averaging close to three goals a game in the North West Counties League’s second tier, the manager’s message for his players to ‘express themselves’ seems to be working.

But the former Football League professional, whose most notable spells came with Brighton, Huddersfield and MK Dons, is not getting carried away.

“There will always be blips, but that’s something we will deal with,” explained the 33-year-old.

“The players I’ve brought in seem to respect me enough with what we’ve done so far, so I don’t see why that should be any different in two, three, or four months.

“Hopefully we can keep this run going, but it’s about making sure they can respond when that blip comes.”

Knight, who says he would put his boots back on if he felt the team needed him, added: “We have a structure of how we want to play.

“I don’t like to get on to the players and coach the game from the sideline. Once they’re out there it’s up to them to express themselves.

“You’ve got to get the ball into the forwards early so the opposition backline hasn’t adapted and from there express yourself – show how good a footballer you are in the final third.

“The players at the back have also been fantastic at keeping us in the lead and tightening things up.”

The ex-England under 20s international credits the impact chairman Ian Ross and assistant manager Andy Burgess – a former teammate of Knight’s at Rushden and Diamonds – have had on his first foray into management.

“I’m happy and at home,” added Knight.

“So with the people I’ve got around me, the management doesn’t seem a big deal.

“I have got a good team around me, and a chairman who is 100 per cent behind me. Andy also makes my job much easier.

“We all got together in pre-season and started to recruit. At any level you’ve got to have a good pre-season, and have to bring players in who are going to improve the squad. And that’s what we did.

“We set our targets out back then and at the moment we are on course. Nobody is getting ahead of themselves; everybody’s feet are on the ground and we will continue to play this way.”

Knight is also keen to mount a cup run this season, and his side did not disappoint with a 3-2 win over Eccleshall in the Reusch First Division Cup on Saturday.

A Colin Quirk double and Kayde Coppin effort sealed the Villagers a second round clash with Northwich Manchester Villa.

And they return to knockout duty again this weekend when Premier Division side Bootle visit Townfield for a Men United Cup second-round encounter.

Their attack will be boosted by the arrival of front man Liam Myers, who signed from Knutsford on Monday.

He scored his 100th goal for the Cheshire League leaders during their latest success at the weekend.

Knight said: “We’ve watched him for a while, and like what we’ve seen – he’s a forward who grafts for the team and scores goals.”