WINSFORD Saxons’ biggest challenge in their second season has been fielding the same team every week, co-manager Chris Thomas says.

Last term, their first as a senior side, they enjoyed remarkable success by winning the Crewe and District League, the Mid-Cheshire District FA Challenge Cup and the AJ Cooke Cup.

And Thomas, who picks the team along with Peter Hughes, said in the off-season the biggest challenge would be keeping the squad together.

He's been proved right.

“It has been tricky," he said.

"Sometimes we will have 15 players but there will be some games where we just have a bare 11.

“We had a lot more selection headaches last year but most of the time, the team picks itself.

“We knew we wouldn’t be as successful as last season but we’ve been doing alright.

"The challenge for us is getting a bit of consistency.

“A few lads have gone to play for Winsford United, which isn’t ideal but the best players in Winsford should get to play for the best team.

"It’s only right, but some have come back.

“We’ve got some new lads in and they are just starting to bed in together so that will help us put in some better performances towards the business end of the season.”

Saxons sit second in the Crewe and District League despite not losing a league game.

They are four points behind leaders Sandbach Town with two games in hand.

And last Saturday saw them reach the semi-finals of the AJ Cooke Cup with a 4-3 victory over Sandbach Curshaws.

They now face a last-four tie with Tarporley Victoria reserves at Knight’s Grange on Saturday, kick off 2pm.

Thomas is confident they can retain their league title and says the league has got better this season.

“I think the teams around us have improved and we’ve kind of stagnated,” he said.

“We’re nowhere near the Cheshire League in terms of facilities, but there’s good teams in there who are capable of competing.”