Mullan, 22 next week, scored for the first time since his summer move from Northwich Victoria when he netted Town's second in Saturday's 3-1 home win over promotion rivals Hinckley to protect their three-point lead at the top of Blue Square North.

And Mellon hopes it's the first of many, saying: "Jamie Mullan should score more and I think he will admit that.

"He has pace and ability and should score more, but it was a great time to score just before half-time." Mullan himself isn't too concerned about personal glory as long as the team keeps picking up points. They have racked up eight successive home wins in the league, and hit the road this weekend for the the first time since Boxing Day when they head to Corby.

Mullan said: "It's good to get on the scoresheet but the three points are the main thing. I'm glad to get my first goal. Adam Warlow got a good flick-on, and I just raced on to it and managed to put it in.
"But the most important thing is that we keep getting three points to put more pressure on the teams around us." But the strikers have been in free-scoring form.

Both Warlow and Nick Rogan netted again against Hinckley, top scorer Warlow taking his tally to 18 for the season with the first-minute opener and Rogan notching his third in two games to wrap up the Blue Square North player of the month award for January.

Mullan added: "We know that Adam is quality and that if he gets a chance he will put it away.

"The start he gave us stood us in good stead for the rest of the game.
"You know what you will get from Nick Rogan. He's one hundred per cent every time and he got a goal which was fully deserved.

Mellon agreed, saying: "Adam is as sharp as a tack and he has been doing that all season. He gave us a flying start from a great ball into the box by Sean Clancy .
"Nick is always a threat because he works so hard. He works his socks off."

*TOWN'S planning application for a 2,000-seat stand to run alaong the side of the ground bordering Memorial Park goes before Wyre Borough Council this afternoon.

The development includes community changing facilities, IT/learning suites, office facilities for rental, a function lounge, executive boxes, club offices and club shop.

Chairman Andy Pilley said: "Whilst we aren't taking anything for granted, we have worked closely with the planners throughout the design stage and are confident that we will get the go-ahead. If we do, we then need to put the major packages out to tender with a view to starting construction as early as April, with a nine- month projected build time."

The new east structure will be the fourth and final stand at the redeveloped Highbury Stadium.

*Town's Jack Duggan, Jordan Holmes and Adam Sumner were all in the starting line-up for the Lancashire Under-18 side which reached the semi-finals of the FA County Youth Cup with a 1-0 win over Suffolk at Leyland.

Clubmate Mark France came on in the second half.

Duggan, Holmes and Sumner have all been named in the Lancashire squad for Saturday's semi against Sheffield and Hallamshire at Sheffield Wednesday FC.