Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Maltby Main joint manager Andy Dawson is thrilled with the team spirit that has been forged at Muglet Lane.
That was one of the priorities for Dawson and Lee Whitehead when they were appointed in mid-July.
The pair had a difficult start in the job but now they are seeing the fruits of their labor.
“I said to you when we came in that the main thing for us was to get the dressing room right,” Dawson told Non League Yorkshire.
“It has taken us a while and a bit longer than what we wanted.
“I looked around the dressing room on Saturday at Eccleshill and there’s no-one in there who doesn’t get on with anyone which is a massive thing.
“I think that’s one of the reasons why we have had the upturn in form.
“There’s no divide.
“Everyone fits with each other and I think that’s a massive part of us hitting a bit of form.”
Maltby won only one of their opening six league matches.
The 6-2 defeat at Thackley was a watershed moment as it has triggered an unbeaten run which has guided them to 12th.
Now with a settled squad, Dawson feels Maltby are in a good place to push on.
“You mentioned (the top) three teams there (Barton Town, Emley and North Ferriby) and we have played all three of them,” he said.
“We drew with Barton, drew with Emley and we lost narrowly to North Ferriby which was a freak goal.
“They are all three very good sides but we didn’t get embarrassed in any of those games.
“We weren’t a million miles away and everyone seems to be beating each other.
“(Those three) have got a little run on it at the minute and they’re up there.
“There is no-one we’ve come up against and I’ve thought they will be the standalone side at the top of the league.
“I think there’s numerous sides that can get into it which is positive for us because I do believe if we get on a good run that we can start to clamber those places.
“The start has hindered us massively.
“Being bottom of the league after five-or-six games you do look at it and think ‘what can we change’.
“We came in with a short period of time before the season started which is never ideal because new players are trying to fit in existing players and it was slightly rushed.
“We had some disappointing 1-0 results early in the season and it sounds like excuses but bad luck really in games when we conceded in the 90th minute to lose.
“We weren’t on a downer but it wasn’t an ideal start because you want to hit the ground running in the league.
“Saying that, it has taken us a few weeks but we are six unbeaten in the league – three wins and three draw and we have won in the League Cup – so that has propelled us to mid-table.
“We have changed little bits and I think it is the personnel we have changed that has catapulted us further up the league.
“Now we want to keep going and getting higher and higher.”
Currently the league is one of the tightest it has been in years as few points separate the top 16.
Dawson says it is great for the league.
“I think it is great that there is numerous teams (involved in the title race),” he said.
“You have just mentioned Handsworth, they were in a similar situation to ourselves and they have gone on a run and it has propelled them to near the top of the league.
“You have to keep working to get that consistency.
“I think it is closer than it has been in recent years which is a good thing for everyone as it keeps the interest.
“There’s nothing worse when you see teams at the bottom miles away and teams in mid-table never going to go up or down.
“It becomes stale towards the end of the season for some clubs but I think everyone is going to be able to have a run at doing something.”