NELSON skipper Neil Thompson insists his Seedhillites have plenty of work still to do if they are to become the real deal – but says a Foster’s Lancashire League win over Rawtenstall and a Worsley Cup success over Burnley have lifted the entire camp.

Nelson lost a host of big name players over the winter and new captain Thompson was charged with rebuilding the team.

And his men shone as they piled on the misery for cellar dwellers Rawtenstall on Saturday to move up to ninth in the table – and then came through a thrilling Worsley Cup tie on Sunday as they beat Burnley with just two balls to go.

“It’s a good weekend and I certainly slept easier on Sunday night than I had been doing,” said the 24-year-old all-rounder.

“The cup match was great, although we nearly let it slip with a couple of runs outs near the end before Lewis Bradley got us home with one wicket and a couple of balls left.

“But that’s what can happen in the cup, you need a little bit of luck to get through or someone to put there hand up and do the business.

“And with both Ramsbottom and Todmorden going out I think it does open it up a bit.

“I thought at the start of the season the winners would come from one of Todmorden, Rammy, Lowerhouse and Accrington – and two of them have gone now so we will just see who we get in the next round and take it from there.”

One pleasing factor for Thompson was the display of Toqir Hussain, who came in at short notice for Richard Meade and performed well.

“That was good,” added the skipper. “To do it without Richard Meade was pleasing and we gave Toqs his chance and he did really well for us.

“But there is still a long way to go, we still have improvements to make – but it is still a good weekend.”