But the Highbury fans won't be complaining if they see more goals like captain Jamie Milligan's wonder-strike from his own half on Tuesday, sealing a 2-0 home win over Farsley Celtic which left Town clear points clear at the summit.

Mellon said: "We are obviously delighted to have hit the front, even though we weren't at our best. It wasn't a pretty display, but it was blustery and sometimes you just have to dig in.

"I make no apologies. We are not in the entertainment business – we are about winning games. We like knocking the ball around for fun but sometimes you just have to win.

"We didn't start well and it was the 34th minute before we got a bit of a passing move going. But we won't play fantastic passing football every week."

The entertainment factor certainly increased in the second half and Mellon acknowledged that a double substitution up front made a difference.

Mellon introduced top scorer Adam Warlow and Nick Rogan, and said: "We just needed a spark and it wasn't happening before the substitutions.
"We didn't look like scoring, and we needed a wee bit of energy up front and something different. The two who came on did that.

"Warlow finished well and Nick Rogan runs around and makes it difficult for people, but it's a squad game and there will be different heroes every week."

Warlow's goal was his 16th of the season and his 14th in Blue Square North, making him the division's leader scorer outright, one ahead of Southport's Ciaran Kilheeney.

Mellon also praised the defence for a third successive clean sheet in league matches at Highbury, adding: "The centre-halves were fantastic.

They won all their headers and kept us organised, and Danny Hurst pulled off two good saves."

But it was no surprise that the manager reserved special praise for Milligan.

"I can't speak highly enough of that goal. I don't think many people in this division would have scored that.

"It was a fantastic piece of vision and ability, and I think that even if the keeper had been on his line he would have struggled to stop it.

"It's fantastic to have Adam Warlow and Jamie Milligan in your ranks to spark you like that. That's what you need on nights like this – your special players with a bit of ability to produce something like that."

Town have played two matches more than Southport but if they can continue to win Mellon's men are sure to stay top for a while – the Haig Avenue club don't play the first of their games in hand until they make the tricky trip to Hinckley on February 8.

They are at home to Telford on Saturday, when Fleetwood welcome Blyth Spartans for the sixth of their seven successive home matches.

*FLEETWOOD Town Under-18s have won through to the Lancashire FA Youth Cup final after a 7-1 win over local rivals Norcross in the semis.

Mark France scored a second-half hat-trick, after Town led 2-0 at half-time, and centre-half Jordan Holmes was the man of the match.