CHORLEY boss Garry Flitcroft believes confidence can carry his side to promotion from the Vanarama Conference North this season.

The Magpies won 1-0 away at Stalybridge Celtic earlier this week to move into the play-off places and with Chorley having as many as five games in hand on the four sides above them, Flitcroft believes a promotion push is certainly on the cards.

And the former Blackburn Rovers midfielder is attributing a growing belief among his players, coupled with the chance to build momentum heading into the final 17 games of the season, as to why it could be back-to-back promotions for the Magpies.

He said: “The lads are playing with confidence and when confidence is high you tend to get good results.

“The lads are bouncing in the dressing room and they are enjoying their training and when they’re in that mood it’s good for getting good results.

“We’ve got games in hand and sometimes it’s tough because you would rather have points on the board. If you can get your momentum and keep winning then games can’t come quick enough for you.

“All the other top teams have got to come to our place Fylde and Barrow and Guiseley and we’ve just got to keep winning games.

“We’ve got a strong squad here. We are in good heart at the moment. There is a brilliant team spirit.”

Chorley host struggling Gloucester City this weekend and will be targeting three points which could see them climb into fourth spot come 5pm tomorrow.

And Flitcroft wants to extend a formidable home record which has seen them lose just once at Victory Park this season, to Boston back in November.

The Magpies chief added: “No team will fancy playing us. We have good home form at the minute. The fans need to get behind us and sing when they get there. We want to create an atmosphere.

“There are never any easy games in this league and Gloucester will come up to us looking to give us a good game.”

The Chorley boss also reserved praise for flying forward Josh Hine who played a key role in the midweek win over Stalybridge, Flitcroft is now challenging the former Clitheroe man to maintain that fine form for the rest of the season.

“Josh is back to where we expect him to be. When he is in that mood he is a real threat and he has got power and pace.

“He is linking well at the moment with Aaron Burns and James Dean.

“We just need him like that every single game and get him up for games.”