TON up. That’s the message York Cricket Club captain Nick Kay is sending to his players as they prepare for a double-header against Cleethorpes Town this weekend.

The Clifton Parkers host the Lincolnshire side in the Solly Sports ECB Yorkshire County Premier League tomorrow before travelling to the seaside for a first round League Cup clash on Sunday.

Having re-established themselves with wins against Yorkshire Academy, Rotherham Town and Stockton, after opening the season with two defeats, confidence is now growing about mounting a serious title challenge.

But there is one sticking point for Kay - he wants his batsman to capitalise on their starts and go on to make centuries.

He said: “We have had six or seven guys who have got 40s and 50s but not made a big hundred. If one of our top five or six guys goes on to make a big 100 then we are going to win. That’s the nature of league cricket.”

On a pleasing return to form, the skipper added: “We could have over-reacted at losing the first two games but there is genuine quality in the team and we haven’t become a bad side overnight.

“The good thing last weekend was that in all three elements - batting, bowling and fielding - we upped our game considerably.

“It doesn’t surprise me that when we play our best we win games of cricket. But you can’t do it one week and then not the next. We have got to take this through the rest of the month and continue to be competitive.

“On paper, we have played some of the stronger teams in the Yorkshire league.

Barnsley are top, Yorkshire Academy are defending champions and Rotherham always give us a good game of cricket. We have got those out of the way and we can get ourselves back into the title chase.

“There is no doubt that Barnsley will lose games of cricket. What we have to do is put them under pressure and then we can mount a serious challenge.”

And while he refuses to under- estimate Cleethorpes, a confident Kay said: “They are a team we have had success against for a number of years.

“They are not a team who will challenge for the league title. They are a team that can be dangerous on their day but I fully expect us to be too strong for them.

“We don’t want to take games for granted but I am confident that if we are at our best we will win these games quite easily. We have got to win.”

York are at full strength for the league encounter and take a 12-man squad to Cleethorpes on Sunday.

While full selection is yet to be determined, Kay confirmed that Chris Booth will play following a debut that produced a 136-run second-wicket partnership with Liam McKendry in a convincing Royal London Club Championship win over Stockton.

“He played really well and it was nice to see a guy come in and make tough runs,” he said.

“He grafted through and made the most of it. He is the sort of cricketer the club will welcome and I want him to play on Sunday.”