FLEETWOOD Town skipper Jamie Milligan is delighted that the new Blue Square North leaders have transferred the pressure to their main promotion rivals Southport - and no doubt he is just as pleased to have put a little pressure on manager Micky Mellon to keep on selecting him.
Club captain or not, the former Blackpool midfielder has struggled to hold down a regular place in the Town team this season, with Mellon sometimes preferring the more muscular midfield combination of Steven Connors and Jamie McGuire.
Milligan found himself back on the bench for the FA Trophy tie with Dover last week, when Town lost at home for the only time all season. But he has started both games since as Fleetwood pulled three points clear at the top with back-to-back wins.
And man of the match Milligan was the inspiration behind Tuesday's 2-0 in over Farsley Celtic, setting up the opener for 16-goal top scorer Adam Warlow and then sealing this season's third win over Farsley - all by two-goal margins - with a stunning looping shot from inside his own half.
The modest Milligan, who turned 30 this month, was quick to praise his team-mates for ensuring that Town hit the summit of non-League's second tier for the very first time, but he insists his wonder-goal was pre-planned.
>> Watch Milligan's wonder goal"I said to Nathan Pond at half-time that if I got a chance I was going to shoot because I saw that the keeper was off his line a bit.
" I tried it last season and nearly got it, and fortunately this time it went in."
As for his team-mates, Milligan added: "It was a great run by Adam for the first goal. I know where he is all the time and I play well with him, I always have done.
"Well done to the lads at the back as well.The centre-halves were magnificent. They know each other's game and look solid in every match, which gives us in midfield a licence to go forward. They are always talking to the midfielders too and that helps."
Milligan's aim now is to maintain that three-point advantage, or even improve it, when Town's run of seven successive home games continues against Blyth Spartans tomorrow.
One of three Blue Square North teams Town are yet to face this season, Blyth were hammered 5-1 at Northwich on Tuesday, having beaten Vauxhall 3-2 last Saturday in their first match for six weeks.
"It's another home game tomorrow and hopefully the fans will be here like they always are," added Milligan.
The downside to this run of home matches, made possible by Town's pitch protection measures, is that they must play ten of their final 15 league games away.
But as Milligan says: "We are top now and there's a bit of pressure on Southport."
