AFTER watching his side win successive matches for the first time this season, Steve Lloyd is urging his players to maintain that momentum this weekend.

Barnton prevailed 2-0 at Squires Gate last Saturday, ending a sequence of a dozen North West Counties League games without a victory.

They followed that with a 4-3 win at neighbours Winsford United in the Mid-Cheshire District FA Senior Cup on Thursday night.

A trip to AFC Darwen is next this Saturday, kick off 3pm.

“I can feel a buzz that hasn’t been there previously within this group,” said the Villagers’ boss.

“We go to Darwen in some form and off the back of two good results, and it’s critical we keep that run going because we’ve a lot of ground to make up.”

Barnton start tomorrow’s contest occupying a place in the Premier Division’s relegation zone.

However their hosts are only a single point better off.

Lloyd plans to recall Danny Meadowcroft, Liam Baker and Sam Houghton after they were rested for the clash with Blues.

Five other regulars – goalkeeper Matthew Conkie and leading goalscorer Chris Smith among them – started the same game as substitutes.

Goals from Shaun Alcock, Adam Coleman and Steve Hughes established a 3-0 lead for Barnton by the break before Hughes added a fourth goal on 66 minutes.

Winsford rallied, with Liam Collins, Kyle Riley and Dean Clarke finding the net inside the last 10 minutes.

However Barnton held on to set up a semi-final date with Northwich Victoria.

Lloyd said: “We were terrific and we got through, which was obviously our objective.

“The lads will learn from what happened late on, and I think that was a spell during which our decision to rest so many experienced players might have cost us.

“However this time the gamble paid off for us.”

Ryan Broadhead, Nathan Williams, Pete Aidley and Jack Warren are all ruled out by injury this weekend.

However Lloyd has added former Witton Albion full back Adam Clayton to his squad, while wide man Ryan Malone has agreed to return to Townfield Lane too.