Bourne Town beat Birstall United in the United Counties League

Bourne Town are continuing to take care of their own business in their quest to be crowned United Counties League Division One champions.

The Wakes recorded their sixth successive league victory on Saturday after a 2-1 home success over play-off chasing Birstall United at the JJ Mac Stadium.

It's now 11 wins and a draw since their only league loss of the campaign in mid-November at second-placed Clipstone.

The Cobras were held to a goalless draw at the weekend which leaves Bourne 11 points clear at the top with a game in hand on their nearest rivals.

Manager Michael Goode said: "Everything we're talking about is on winning the next game and not worrying about what anyone else does.

"We are just concentrating on looking after ourselves because we're in a really good position.

"Apart from a couple of players, it's a fairly young squad who have all played a decent standard of football but not many of them have been in this sort of position before.

"It is a new experience and a continuous thinking process of how you can win the next game.

"There is a bit of pressure on us but they're coping really well at the moment and are relishing every game because they want to be playing."

The Wakes had to overcome an early setback before triumphing on Saturday in front of a bumper home crowd of 366.

They had been slow out of the blocks and Birstall took full advantage as Josh Crossley was released before firing home a fine finish past home goalkeeper Dan Swan.

Bourne almost levelled immediately as Will Bird turned a Zak Munton cross against the post before the equaliser arrived in the 15th minute.

Zac Allen did well to work an opening before driving in a cross which was turned into his own net by a Birstall defender with Munton waiting to pounce.

Robbie Ellis came close to putting Bourne ahead with a strike from distance that went just wide before Swan made a superb stop from a Birstall free-kick.

Allen saw an effort cleared off the line before Bourne took the lead in first half stoppage time.

A superb through ball from Henry Dunn released Munton and he raced away from the chasing defender before applying a calm and confident finish past the Birstall goalkeeper.

Bourne looked to increase their advantage after the break with Ellis having a shot blocked following a Munton setpiece and James Hill-Seekings also going close.

Birstall were then reduced to 10 men with 12 minutes remaining following a second caution but Bourne's one-man advantage didn't last long.

Dunn thought he had scored Bourne's third goal when he headed home a cross, however, the effort was disallowed for offside.

The former Melton Town player had tried to indicate to the assistant referee that the ball had been pulled back before he converted but it was misinterpreted by the officials who sin-binned the midfielder for 10 minutes.

The Wakes again managed the final stages of the contest well to record their 25th league win from 29 outings this term.

Goode added: "Birstall are a good side and, although I don't think we were at our best, we keep finding a way to win.

"It was a much better game because Birstall had come to try and win. They were on a good run and have got some decent players.

"We did start slowly and it took us a while to get going after their goal but we started to get a foothold in the game and continued to build up momentum as the half went on.

"We were solid in the second half and I always felt comfortable. We had worked out their game-plan and were confident that we would see it through.

"We managed the game well late on and controlled it. They keep learning as a group and it was another good result in front of a brilliant crowd which helped create a fantastic atmosphere."

The Wakes are back in action tomorrow night (Tuesday) when they travel to play Holwell Sports.