This week, Joe Tait writes the column as Chris Mason was unavailable, which meant Joe was skipper for last Saturday’s win at Burscough.

WE had a great win at Burscough last Saturday, our first away from home in the league for three months. We didn’t play too well, but we proved that we can grind results out. There wasn’t much between the teams, but a little bit of magic from Shane Henry’s free kick decided the tie.

It was good to keep a clean sheet, and it was good also to get the little bit of luck we’ve deserved. Burscough were a big physical side, who tried to score from setpieces. It just showed again that there are no easy games in this division. Teams are more organised than those in the Northern League, and if opponents go 1-0 up, they try to see games out and shut up shop.

We’ll be looking for another win this Saturday against New Mills, and three points will keep us very nicely in play-off contention. People don’t seem to be thinking much about us, so we’ll just quietly get on with our season.

Chris mentioned about my free kicks and penalties recently. I remember when the manager, Jason Ainsley, signed me during the summer, I told him that I was a free scoring centre half, and joked that if I got some half chances I would score.

We were talking about penalties in the dressing room one day, and it was obvious that none of the others fancied taking them, so I said I would. I’ve scored five since then, so I’m well ahead of Paul Johnson with our bet. To me, it’s 50/50 when you take a penalty, you either score, or you don’t.

After I’d taken a couple of penalties, I started taking free kicks. The first one I took was superb, when I hit the bar at Telford, and I managed to live on that for a few games, but now the rest of the lads won’t let me take them – not even if we go down to nine men they tell me!

At least I’m not getting fined by the lads for that, but Shane Henry and I seem to be getting fined for everything. Between us, we’ll be paying for the end of season trip. I think I’m up to £70 now and Shane about £60. For example, we’ve both been fined for not winning the FA Vase! There’s an Irish mafia which started with Keith Graydon and has continued since – whatever they say, goes!