CARL Macauley has said that Sutton Coldfield Town’s recent improvement makes them a dangerous opponent for Witton Albion this weekend.

The Royals start tomorrow’s Northern Premier League encounter boosted by recording successive victories for the first time this season.

They remain bottom of the Premier Division table, but have closed to within a point of Stalybridge above them – opponents they defeated 2-0 last time out.

Macauley said: “It’s going to be a tough ask for us.

“They’ve dipped into the transfer market, and that appears to have helped them to pick up a bit.

“Stalybridge aren’t having the season everybody expected them to, but it’s still a decent result to beat them.

“We’ll respect them in the same way we do every opponent we face.”

Witton make the trip depleted by the absence through injury of influential duo Anthony Gardner (ankle) and Paul Williams (knee).

Anthony Brown (knee) has returned to training after sitting out the past two games, but is unlikely to be risked on an artificial surface at Coles Lane.

And Macauley knows he will need to juggle his limited resources carefully during a spell when his team is due to play four times in nine days.

Warrington Town are scheduled to travel to Northwich on Boxing Day before Barwell do the same on Saturday week, December 30.

A derby with leaders Altrincham at Moss Lane follows on New Year’s Day.

“It’s important period of the season for everybody,” said the Albion boss.

“We go into every game wanting to take maximum points, and with 12 of them up for grabs your position can change quickly with a good run of results.

“I’ll need to look after certain people though so they can be at their best when we need them to perform.”