Penistone Church are hoping their superb form over the last four months can take them to a sixth-placed finish this season as well as a cup final – then a promotion challenge next year.
Ian Richards' side maintained their 14-match unbeaten Premier Division run while ending a sequence of 12 successive victories for runaway leaders AFC Mansfield as the league's two in-form sides played out a 0-0 draw on Saturday.
Church – in their first season at this level – remain eighth in the table with 46 points from 29 matches, having not lost in the league since October when they were in the bottom five after picking up just 14 points from the first 15 games.
Richards, whose side are also in the semi-final of the Sheffield Cup, said: "I am really pleased with our results and performances at the moment. I definitely think we can catch Rainworth in seventh and we still have to play Hemsworth who are sixth.
"We believe we can get to the cup final, especially if we avoid Shaw Lane in the semi-finals. To do that and come in the top six in our first season after promotion would be unbelievable and another fantastic year after winning the play-offs and the League Cup last time.
"If we had played like this all season, we would be in the mix for the title but it took all of us a while to get used to the league and we had a lot of injuries and suspensions early on. We are already talking about next season at times and we know that, if we perform like we are doing now from the start of the season, we can be up there challenging.
"We want to keep hold of all our players and add three or four more because we are lacking a bit of depth."
Church have scored the most home goals in the division with 45 from 15 games which have brought ten wins and only two defeats. That is the second best home record in the league while their last 14 games in all competitions at the Memorial Ground have brought 11 wins and three draws.
One of their star players Nathan Keightley, 18, had a trial at Oakwell this season and is still being monitored by Barnsley as well as Sheffield United and Chesterfield while other non-league clubs including Shaw Lane had scouts at Saturday's match.
Despite the cold weather, the biggest attendance in the league that day of 223 people saw Mansfield – who are 14 points clear at the top of the league – held to a 0-0 draw as Church failed to net at home for the first time this season.
Richards said: "That game showed how far we have progressed this season, and showed what a fantastic group of players we have and what a fantastic club they play for. We must remember we were playing the runaway leaders AFC Mansfield who were 16 games unbeaten with 12 consecutive wins and not just sneaking wins but dominating games and scoring a lot of goals.
"In the first half we were the better team and we created the better chances but we lost our striker Andy Ring at half-time to a groin injury and that was a big blow because he was having a great game and he's very important to how we play. We still probably edged it over the 90 minutes which is very pleasing. Goalkeeper Chris Snaith stepped up from the reserves and was man of the match with a great performance."
Meanwhile, Athersley Rec suffered a third successive league defeat as they lost 3-1 at Albion Sports on Saturday. Lee Garside put the visitors ahead midway through the first half but the lead lasted just six minutes then two second half home goals in quick succession won the game for Albion. Athersley's game at home to Hemsworth MW was called off on Wednesday.Luke Potter's side are currently 15th in the table with 28 points from 26 games so far.
Tomorrow, Rec host bottom club Clipstone who have just one point from 28 games this season and have conceded 100 goals.Worsbrough Bridge's two scheduled Division One matches were called off this week. Lee Morris' team have not played since January 27. They are 19th out of 22 with 22 points from 25 matches. Worsbrough are due to host fourth-placed Yorkshire Amateur tomorrow.
