The Yellamen’s fantastic form continued last week with victories over Holyport and Shrivenham making it eight wins and a draw from nine games.

With Highmoor Ibis not in action in midweek, the Yellamen moved to the top of the table for the first time this season last Tuesday.

And McGrotty wants his players to ensure they stay at the summit, despite admitting there are a number of teams capable of claiming top spot for themselves.

“It is a really tough league,” he said. “We had a poor start and knew we had to put something together and we’ve managed to go on a similar run to one we put together last year.

“The easy bit is getting to the top of the league, the hard part is staying there as when you’re at the top, everyone wants to beat you. Teams look at you at the top and raise their game to try and beat you so we have to deal with that.

“The challenge for us is now that we’ve got to the top, let’s stay there. It won’t be easy and it will be a long season but that’s what we have to do.” The Yellamen face winless Cheltenham Saracens this Saturday (3pm), before embarking on a tough run of fixtures in the lead up to Christmas.

But with the squad close to full strength, McGrotty is hopeful that the players will handle the testing league schedule as well as cup success.

“There are no easy games,” he added. “Ardley, Flackwell and Reading are mid-table which is not where they should be.

“We’ve got a tricky run up to Christmas with games against the likes of Binfield, Flackwell and Highworth so we’ll see how we get on there.

“The challenge is to approach every game in the same manner and if we do that then we’ll be fine.

“We had five missing for various reasons on Saturday but on the whole the squad is near full strength compared to the start of the season.

“We’re in a good position now, we just need to make sure we push on and try to make it count.

“We also want to ensure we enjoy some cup success which can bring in money so it’ll be a long season, but hopefully a good one.” Ascot's good form continued on Saturday as a Jermaine Roche brace fired them to a hard fought 2-1 win at Shrivenham on Saturday.

A first-half double from Roche was enough for Jeff Lamb’s men on the day, despite a spirited fightback from the hosts as they came close to snatching a draw.

Joe Yeates had to clear off the line twice, but Ascot held out for three points from a tough encounter in Oxfordshire.

And assistant manager Paul McGrotty was delighted with the win against the side in the relegation zone, insisting that it proves there are no easy games in the league.

“It was a tough, tough game against a side that don’t deserve to be where they are in the league,” he said. “I don’t think they’ll be there at the end of the season and they gave us a good test.

“We didn’t start very well but found ourselves 2-0 up at half-time, which was pleasing. We then gifted them a goal early in the second-half and they got a boost from it.

“When you’re only a goal up it’s always a bit nervy, but credit to ourselves as we saw the game out to get the win which was really pleasing.

“I think it proves that there are no easy games in this league. We only beat Holyport 2-0 and they’re down the bottom as well so every game is a challenge.

“We go to Cheltenham Saracens on Saturday, who are bottom, but we know we have to apply ourselves as they’re a better side at home and are capable of winning.” A morning of heavy rain had been replaced by sunshine come kick-off, and Ascot made a bright start as they took the lead after just five minutes.

The Yellamen are making a habit of scoring early and it was Roche on target this time as he finished off a swift counter-attack.

Matt Cooper swung in a cross and Rob Saunders headed towards goal. It was tipped away by Aaron Moody in the hosts’ goal, but Roche was on hand to stab home from a matter of yards.

Shrivenham came close to an equaliser in the 14th minute but Matty Bown’s goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Yeates, with Chris Grace beaten.

Ascot doubled their lead ten minutes before the break when Lee Boon released Roche and the in-form striker finished acutely to put the visitors in total control.

It was a comfortable lead at the break but Shrivenham were straight back in the contest two minutes after the restart, when Alex Rodrigues underhit a back pass to Grace, and James Turner capitalised to round the keeper and tap into an empty net.

Shrivenham were in the ascendancy for the majority of the second-half, and had two golden chances to level in the closing stages.

Yeates fantastically cleared off the line after Turner again rounded Grace and fired the ball towards goal, before Grace grabbed a long ball from Dane Moulden’s long throw to relieve pressure on the Yellamen dfence later on.

The full-time whistle signalled victory for Ascot - who held on to top spot in the division following their fine recent run.