BUOYANT manager Paul Marshall saluted leading gunslinger Steve Davey for firing Harrogate Railway up the rankings.

Davey's brace of goals in the hard-fought 3-1 win over Armthorpe Welfare on Monday elevated him to 24 goals for the campaign as well as hoisting The Rail to sixth place in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

The victory was Railway's eighth win out of their last nine games giving them a total of 35 points from 21 games when last season they mustered 41 points from 38 matches.

Marshall has always maintained that a haul of 40 points would safeguard the club from the peril of relegation. That target could now be surpassed within the next four days with the Harrogate outfit hosting the visit of Thackley tomorrow before entertaining Liversedge on Monday night.

One of the key components to Rail's rise has been the sharp-shooting form of Harrogate-born Davey, with whom Marshall confessed to enjoying a 'love-hate' relationship.

Davey's double against Armthorpe reinforced his own tilt at being crowned the premier division's leading marksman.

Despite being banned for virtually the whole of December, Davey has still tallied 24 goals, either playing as an out-and-out striker or just behind the front two. His tally has come from just 21 starts, plus three other games as substitute.

It's unlikely now that Davey will spend any more time on the bench with Marshall acknowledging his major contribution to Rail's ascent into the top six and hoping that the rich vein of form will continue over the next 17 league games.

"It's one hell of a record," enthused the manager.

"We have a 'love-hate' relationship. He does have a moan now and then and I can give it him back, but he seems to be getting better all the time.

"I have played with him and managed him for the last ten years, but he is always improving and I seem to be able to get the best out of him."

Marshall is also delighted with the way his men are shaping up towards the club's best campaign for several years, even though Rail are now committed to two games a week between now and the end of the season.

"We got to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup, the third round of the FA Vase and we're now sixth in the league with games in hand over some of the clubs above us. We've even got a league cup quarter-final to fit in.

"The aim now is to crack on and see where we can finish."

Both tomorrow's visit of Thackley and the home clash against Liversedge on Monday (7.45pm kick-off) offer free admission for anyone aged under 16.

Updated: 12:52 Friday, February 22, 2002