TADCASTER Albion manager Billy Miller does not want the club’s current run of form to undermine the progress made at the club over the last 18 months.

The Brewers, who won the Northern Counties East League premier division last season, have won only one of their last 11 games in the Evo-Stik first division north.

Defeat tomorrow at Radcliffe Borough could leave the club in 15th position but Miller has called for patience from supporters and says his players are still adjusting to life in the higher league.

“We have got to stick together and get out of the little rut we are in,” he said.

“There is no point feeling sorry for ourselves. We have earned the right to be in this league and we have just got to get over this blip.”

Miller quit Harrogate Railway in May 2015 to take over as Albion manager following the departure of Paul Marshall.

After leading his new club to the NCEL Premier title, he made an impressive start to the current season and the Brewers were sitting third in the table just two months ago.

“We have a good group of players,” he said. “They are adjusting to life at this level of football and it’s a lot more physical and it’s a lot more demanding.

“But we have to be careful that we don’t get dragged into the bottom half of the table. That’s not where we want to be,” he stressed. “No-one at the football club wants to be there – we have worked too hard to get here.

“In terms of going forward, we are only 18 months at the club,” he reflected. “We have gone from winning the Counties, and winning in in style, to cementing ourselves.

“You sort of question yourself. Do we give them (the players) time to mature? We have to work out where we go from here.

“Is there an area we might think about strengthening?

“We will keep plugging away, working hard, and looking for the right solutions, the right formula.We have got to pick ourselves up because we have a really difficult Christmas period coming up.”

Scarborough Athletic, who visit the i2i Stadium on Boxing Day, have boosted their bid for promotion with the signing of striker Jacob Hazel from Gainsborough Trinity. Hazel, the son of former Rotherham United winger Des, is set to make his debut for Boro tomorrow at Colne.

Pickering Town visit Rainworth Miners Welfare tomorrow buoyed by a 5-0 midweek victory over Harrogate Railway Athletic.

The Pikes are now third in the NCEL premier table with three games in hand on the leaders Cleethorpes Town.

Railway, who host Liversedge, signed centreback Sam Renton this week from Handsworth Parramore.

Selby Town have picked up just four points from the last seven games ahead of their trip to Dronfield Town in NCEL division one. Knaresborough Town, meanwhile, host fellow play-off chasers Campion.

Harrogate Town visit Curzon Ashton in Vanarama National League North.

Whitby Town are away to Matlock Town in the Evo-Stik League premier division.