IT was great to get through to the final stages of a cup competition and to have the chance of getting into the quarter-finals.

But the real business is the league and we have got two tough games coming up with Hinckley United on Saturday and Blyth Spartans the week after.

Hinckley have had a great season so far and have been at the top of the table nearly all season.

We haven't played them yet so it's our first look at them but we know they have got good players in the side, including former Worcester player Leon Kelly.

It will be a tough game for us but it's an important one because they are second and, if we can win, we would be just four points behind them.

I think we have shown over recent weeks - losing just two in 14 - that our form is really good.

The only disappointing performance was the one against Workington but we beat Kettering, went to Stalybridge and got a result, and beat Droylsden.

We are more than capable if we can repeat these performances.

I still see our win against Droylsden in November as a clean sheet because of the circumstances of their goal.

However, the facts will show that Blyth are the only side to stop Droylsden scoring this season, following last Saturday's 0-0 draw, which shows they are very hard to break down.

They have maintained their position in the table throughout the season but when we go into that game we can also get close to them in the league with a win.

After these games we could be right up there or have a lot of catching up to do but it's nice to have it in our own hands.

I was pleased with the performance against Burton on Saturday. We made a great start and it was a super first goal.

It wasn't a fluke that Danny McDonnell's kick found Mark Danks who made a great run to get some space.

George Clegg then showed great energy to get up from defending their corner and Graham Ward ran 80 or 90 yards to come off one the posts at the corner to score the header.

That's what we need to take into the league. If we can take that into the league continually then we've got a great chance of achieving promotion.

We want to be playing the likes of Burton week in, week out.

I don't think we are far off but you have got to earn the right to get into the Conference.

You can have as good a team as you like but you've got to earn the right, no-one's going to give it to you.

The teams that we play at the moment are not going to lie down because they want to be there as well.

The reserves lost 2-0 away at AFC Telford United on Monday.

Both Adam Webster and Chris Cornes in particular - as well as some of the younger lads - haven't had enough games and they all got 90 minutes under their belts.

We have got a fully fit squad to pick from and that hasn't happended much in my time here.