STANDISH captain Sam Heeley hopes his side's current momentum can drive them to a mid-table finish.

The Green Lane men have bounced back with three straight wins after a dreadful sequence of defeats.

After winning their second game of the season they lost every game up to a couple of weeks ago.

Two wins in the league and a Twenty20 success has brought a wave of optimism into the camp ahead of tomorrow's tough home game against reigning champions and current second-placed side Flixton.

Heeley sees signs of improvement he believes can carry them up from their current fifth-bottom position.

"We beat Westleigh by eight wickets last week to keep up our recent good run," said the in-form captain.

"It's finally starting to click whereas it just wasn't clicking for us earlier in the season, although we were unlucky at times.

"We have a bit of momentum now. We've targeted three or four wins in the last six games and if we can get them we're confident we can get into the middle group of teams."

Heeley said the turning point was a brilliant performance by Australian overseas player Luke Kennedy in the first of those three recent victories against Adlington.

"We knocked off 170-odd and needed three off the last ball and Luke hit a six," he said.

"We needed 11 runs an over with 11 overs left. Luke hit 89 not out and it was one of the best innings I have ever seen.

"He's just about finding some form now the wickets have dried out after struggling in the early part of the season with the wet wickets.

"We got him through Dave Bowden who used to play for us and knows him. He came over last year but was too late to register.

"He liked being around the club and wanted to play for us so came back this year."

Heeley also picked out Ben Dowling and Chris Gunn as positive influences in Standish's season, while the captain is also hoping he can continue his own fine form.

"Ben Dowling has shone with the ball and Chris Gunn has come back the last couple of weeks and has done well and given us a bowling option.

"Hopefully I can continue the way I'm going at the moment as well."

Heeley has been the standout performer for Standish for several years and is on course for one of the best seasons of his career.

He has taken 31 wickets and scored around 450 runs. His best run record was last year when he hit 700 and his best season for wickets was three years ago when he took 60.

"Hopefully I'm on for 800 runs and 50 wickets this season," he said. "I'm feeling good, I just hope it doesn't stop."