LOWESTOFT Town joint boss Ady Gallagher says his players deserve great respect after a fantastic fortnight of five straight wins. The Blues are sitting 12 points clear at the top of Ryman League Division One north after a great run of six consecutive victories.

LOWESTOFT Town joint boss Ady Gallagher says his players deserve great respect after a fantastic fortnight of five straight wins.

The Blues are sitting 12 points clear at the top of Ryman League Division One north after a great run of six consecutive victories.

And five of those successes have come in a hectic two-week period culminating in Saturday's excellent 3-0 win at Heybridge Swifts.

Now the Blues get the chance to recharge their batteries as they are without a midweek game before tackling Ware at Crown Meadow on Saturday.

Gallagher says it's a good opportunity for the players to regroup before they continue their quest for the title.

'It's very nice,' he said.

'We've just had five games in 14 days. To get five wins in those five games is a tremendous achievement by the players and they deserve great respect for that.

'I just think after five games in two weeks it gives us a chance to regroup a little bit, and also for some of the players to get their fitness in check, like some of the players who've got a bit of a knock to have a bit of a rest and it's a nice situation.

'We know after this week we're going to busy for the next two or three weeks.'

The Blues were without several key players on Saturday including skipper Greg Crane, and midfielders Gary Holt, Jamie Godbold and Scott Mitchell, who have been key components of their success this season, while defender Matt Halliday was taken off injured after a bad tackle inside the first five minutes.

And Gallagher has paid tribute to the players who have stepped in from the sidelines to keep the Town promotion juggernaut right on course.

'It was a tough game,' he said.

'The squad has been stretched and players are stepping up. I'm really pleased for players like Darren Cockrill, Matty Potter and Craig Bussens who've come into the team.

'They've been really patient all season, but they're coming into the side and really showing their worth alongside players who've contributed all season.

'Now the squad is being stretched I'm sure those boys really feel they're contributing to what we've achieved so far this year.'

Ware were the last team to stop Town from winning in the league, after a 2-2 draw on December 15.

Indeed, Lowestoft have only failed to win four games all season and have just been beaten once - when Ilford grabbed a 1-0 win at the Meadow way back on August 22.

But Gallagher says Town are not getting carried away despite their handsome lead at the top of the table.

'All we can ask of the lads what they are doing at the moment,' he said.

'We've said 'keep your feet on the ground, keep working hard and see what happens and where it takes us'.'