Shaw Lane AFC have taken their unbeaten run to 18 matches, including 17 wins, and are three points clear in first place ahead of their top-of-the-table clash at Spalding United tomorrow.
The Ducks won 3-1 at home to Market Drayton Town on Saturday then crushed hosts Lincoln United 6-0 on Tuesday to make it 11 unbeaten in the league. They are now three points clear of second-placed Spalding who have played three games more than the Barnsley side.
There is then a further four points to the rest of the chasing pack, most of whom have played several more matches than the Shaw Laners, who have only lost one league game all season and none at all since September.
Ducks manager Craig Elliott said: "Spalding are a strong physical team who, by all accounts, play on a horrendous pitch which helps them a lot. It's a bigger game for them than it is for us. They need to win it.If we win, we'll be in a really strong position – six points clear with three games in hand.
"The run we are on would be incredible at any level and everyone at the club should be proud. To be 18 games unbeaten is one thing but to win all but one of them is something I have never known. It will be difficult to maintain that run but we will give it our best shot. We are halfway through our league games so there is a lot of football left."
Seventh-placed Witton Albion are 14 points behind the Ducks and could catch them if they win all five of their games in hand. But Elliott, whose side have been in Witton's position in previous seasons after having a host of games called off, would rather have the points than matches in hand. He said: "It's not impossible because we nearly got promoted from that sort of position last season but it's a massive challenge physically and mentally. "Witton are one of the teams who can catch us but I am very happy with the position were are in."
In Lincoln on Tuesday, centre-back Ryan Qualter twice headed in corners from Alex Byrne in the first 16 minutes to put the visitors 2-0 ahead. The Ducks then finished the hosts off with four goals between 52 and 69 minutes as top-scorer Gavin Allott netted twice while Gary Burnett and Spencer Harris also struck. Mid-table Lincoln had missed a penalty at 3-0.
Elliott said: "It was a superb win, one of our best of the season. I was nervous before the match because they are a good side, but every one of our players was absolutely fantastic."
Against Market Drayton Town on Saturday, Harris and Jack Tuohy netted either side of the break then Byrne got his 14th of the season late on before the lowly visitors pulled one back.
