ANDY Welsh is delighted to be number one at Christmas but is refusing to get carried away.

Bury AFC hit top spot for the first time this season following last weekend’s 3-1 win over Garstang on their return to action thanks to two goals from Tom Greaves and an Alex O’Keefe strike.

With the rest of the NWCL First Division North not playing until Monday, AFC could be four points clear should they beat Chadderton on Boxing Day.

While the phoenix club have played more games than teams in and around them, Welsh said he would much rather bank the points.

“I’m delighted to be top of the table,” he said. “There is a long way to go but you would much rather have the points than the games in hand. It is all very well having those games but you have to pick up the points and we have already done that.

“So thrilled to be top of the table but there is an awful lot of football to be played.”

Welsh is expecting another tough test at home to Chadderton on Saturday – but is hoping he will be able to give the fans something to cheer about.

“We had a 150 spectators in for last weekend’s game against Garstang and they were brilliant,” he said. “They really got behind us and made a lot of noise and we needed that because we weren’t at our best.

“As is often the case in this division, it is another mini-derby for us as Chadderton are just up the road so we will have to be on top of our game.”

After nearly seven weeks without a game following the league’s suspension due to Covid-19, Welsh was delighted to return to action – but he said everyone has to enjoy it while it lasts.

“No-one knows what is going to happen in the new year, there is talk of suspending

play again so we just have to enjoy it and be ready to play when we have to do,” he said.

“It was great to be back in action. We worked very hard in training when we got back together but no matter how much you do, you can’t replicate match action.

“We had two good run-outs against Squires Gate and Radcliffe which got us physically ready but we were delighted to return with a victory against Garstang.”