BARNTON’S improvement will be tested in knockout games against higher-ranked opponents this week but manager James McShane is confident that his youthful side can pass.

The Villagers have won four successive matches in all competitions, scoring 21 goals along the way, after brushing aside Maine Road last weekend.

It means they start a clash with Congleton Town in the Macron Cup on Saturday in confident mood.

“We felt it was around the corner,” McShane told the Guardian, referring to an impressive run of results that started with a 5-2 win at New Mills last month.

“The previous week we’d lost by the same score at Oswestry, but it could have been 7-7 if I'm honest!

“We’ve so many good players going forward, and as a former striker myself I guess it’s instinctive to want to attack and score goals.”

McShane, a player-coach last season, was appointed in March when Steve Lloyd announced his intention to step down and fill a vacancy for a chairman on the club’s committee.

A gradual handover followed, and the duo agreed that they would place an emphasis on giving a chance to young players following Barnton’s relegation from the North West Counties League’s top-flight.

There has been inconsistency, inevitable with inexperienced players, and the Villagers have also had to recover from the blow of losing captain and leading goal-scorer Chris Smith to Newcastle Town.

McShane said: “That was a huge blow, but it’s been encouraging to see other lads step up.

“He was a leader, and a guy the others looked to for guidance, and of course you’d rather still have him around.

“It has brought everybody together though because they want to share the load that he carried.”

McShane, who is assisted by Gary Moore and coaches Liam Page and Adam Judge, is – like his players – learning on the job after sitting in the dugout for the first time.

While there is no pressure to secure promotion back to the Premier Division at the first attempt, there is a determination to build a side capable of doing so in the future.

In the meantime, they’d love to cause an upset.

After Congleton, former tenants Northwich Victoria arrive at Townfield a Mid-Cheshire FA Senior Cup tie on Wednesday, kick-off 7.45pm.

Indeed, the Villagers scored seven times against Vics to eliminate them last season.

McShane said: “We know it’s not a quick-fix to rebuild after coming down, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have targets.

“I think if we can finish in the top eight, then that would represent success, but that isn’t an objective that’s been set for us as a management team by the club.

“As a new manager, I’d love a cup run in my first season and to win a trophy. Why not?”