One year ago, we travelled to play Winsford Town in a Cheshire League Two game – we lost the game 6-1, outplayed and out fought it was a day that we realised how tough the challenge would be to achieve our ambitions as a football club.

The last two weeks have been a reminder to us the levels we need to reach – a heartbreaking last-minute defeat to League One Billinge New Street in the JA Walton Cup was then followed by a humbling 6-2 defeat at Altrincham Hale, another side one level higher than us, in the Quarter Final of the Altrincham & District FA Cup.

Valley sit in second place in the league table, one point behind unbeaten leaders St Helens Town who also have two games in hand. They’ve been in incredible form this season and it would take a huge drop for them to fail to hold on to top spot.

Stretford Paddock currently sit in third place – two points behind Mersey Valley – having played the same number of games. The pre-season favourites have won eight league games in the bounce since suffering back-to-back defeats in September.

Another pre-season favourite Lymm Rovers are also in a good position, sitting fourth on twenty-nine points but have hit form with three straight league wins after their mid-season wobble.

Hartford and Haydock may also consider themselves in the mix but with Hartford losing their manager to Premier League Lostock Gralam and Haydock only having eight games left it may be too much for either side to get into the top two.

It promises to be an exciting final few months of the season. Valley still have to travel to St Helens and Lymm and also welcome Stretford Paddock to Banky Lane – a game everyone is looking forward too.