After nine wins from nine games, Silsden boss Danny Forrest admits he and his side are as surprised as anyone by their incredible start to the season.

The Cobbydalers' 100 per cent record has put them at the top of the Hallmark Security League as well as into the second round of qualifying in the FA Vase.

And Forrest could not be more pleased with his side's improvements over the summer in all areas of the pitch.

"I knew we were well prepared for the season and I was hoping for a strong start, but I don't think any of us could have imagined nine wins from nine games," he said.

"The defence is something that, as soon as I came in last November, I wanted to improve on and it's taken a lot of time.

"It's not just the back four and the keeper. Although they've been outstanding, everyone has bought into the shape work that we've done.

"We are hard to beat and score against. Even though we conceded two on Saturday (in Silsden's 5-2 over Cheadle Town), we've tightened up a lot and it's up to us to get that part right first so we're giving ourselves a chance in games.

"We've got goals in our team now too,” Forrest continued, with Saturday's hat-trick hero Joe Gaughan named the league’s player of the month for August after scoring three in five games.

"Last year, we were heavily reliant on Nicky McNally and Chris Wademan. Don't get me wrong, those two have got goals in them, but we've added Joe Gaughan, Mateusz Tomas and Niall Sultan, who are all capable of scoring goals.

"When you've got four, five, six players in your team who are hungry and have that cutting edge in the final third, you've got a chance. If someone is off it, someone else is in there getting shots off.

"I feel at both ends of the pitch we've worked hard to improve and at the moment we're getting our rewards for it. We've just got to keep it going."

How the players react when that first defeat does come will be just as important, and Forrest admits he will be interested to see how that affects certain characters.

"Nine wins in a row, they're not really used to losing at the moment.

“They've had to face challenges in the games but we've always ended up on top so far.

“It will probably happen, I hope it doesn't, but I'll learn a lot about them and it’ll be interesting to see how they do react,” added Forrest.

“I'll be encouraging them not to worry too much, but it'll be a test of character - especially for the young squad that we've got.

“But they all realise that there's something bigger to work towards.

“Hopefully if we do lose it will just be a blip, but we'll see.”