LEE Duckworth insists Winsford United showed their true colours last weekend and urged his players to do so again before a testing double-header this weekend.

Blues put five goals past Worksop to reach the FA Vase first round, a timely boost before a visit from Silsden on Saturday and then Northwich Victoria 48 hours later.

They start the first of those two games without a win in the North West Counties League after seven attempts.

“We have to follow it up,” said the player-manager.

“It’s true that our performances previously this season haven’t had the reward they perhaps deserved.

“Our style of football has won us compliments, and not many points, but on Saturday we turned that around.”

Winsford have been paired with Sporting Khalsa, from the Midlands League’s Premier Division, at the competition’s next stage.

They travel to the West Midlands next month.

READ: Road trip for Blues next in FA Vase

Before then they hope to improve a points tally that currently puts them third-bottom in the table.

However Duckworth is feeling optimistic after watching three of his forward players – Pete Watling, Dave Short and Tom Fisher – score in that 5-0 win against the Tigers.

He added: “Our build-up play has been good all season, but we haven’t taken the chances we’ve created.

“To see those three weigh in is a boost.

“All the lads were buoyant afterwards, relieved too, because we’ve maybe not had the rub of the green in recent weeks.”

He told the Guardian Will Foster would likely be missing again this weekend after suffering a fracture to a toe during training last week.

Steve Jenyons (knee) is closer to a return, while Caldon Henson demonstrated his worth with a fine display on debut after arriving from Mossley.

“He wasn’t due to play but the injury to Will forced our hand and I had to ring him,” said Duckworth.

“I asked him to come through, and to grit his teeth if he had to because he hadn’t played since the summer, and he did a great job.”