RACCRINGTON Stanley's FA Cup spot kick hero Paul Howarth has his focus firmly set on climbing the table over the Christmas period.

While Howarth's successful fifth penalty in the shoot-out against Bournemouth on Monday night booked an FA Cup third round clash with Colchester United at the Interlink Express Stadium on January 3, the 22-year-old is happy to let the Reds giant-killing cup run be a pleasant distraction.

When the second division Us arrive in the New Year they are in danger of becoming Stanley's third League scalp, hard on the heels of Huddersfield Town and the Cherries. But the coming Nationwide Conference fixtures against Leigh and the holiday double-header against Morecambe are of far more concern to the former Shrewsbury Town defender.

"The FA Cup win was fantastic, but really all the competition is for us is a nice distraction from the Conference," said Howarth.

"We have got a massive month coming up in terms of the league and if we want to be in the play-offs at the end of the season, then this is where we have to start laying the foundations for that.

"If we want to be near the top of the Conference we have to be taking points now, so the game at Leigh RMI at the weekend and the the two matches against Morecambe are vital.

"We have to make the Conference our priority and we will be looking to take as many points as we can from those three games first before we can even think about the cup again."

Howarth looks set to retain his place in the side for the weekend clash at Hilton Park, though Jonathan Smith may be fit to return to the centre of defence after missing Monday's cup-tie due to a knee injury.

Leigh currently lie third from bottom of the Conference but under new manager Phil Starbuck - the former Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield midfielder - they are turning things round and last weekend notched an encouraging 2-1 away win at Dagenham and Redbridge.

Goals from Paul Shepherd and former York City striker David McNiven earned them victory, while Howarth could find himself marking former Manchester United youth team player Ian Fitzpatrick, who made his debut at Victoria Road having joined the Railwaymen on a month's loan from Shrewsbury.

But Howarth was justifiably pleased with Stanley's current form - both in league and cup.

"We are in sight of the top teams and we deserve to be where we are in the league," said Howarth of Stanley's eighth place standing.

"So far we can say that we are on the right road, but we have got some important games to come.

"Against Bournemouth we showed that we can match some very good teams.

"We were as good as them for 90 minutes down there, and we were as good as them again for 120 minutes on Monday.

"But I feel we have shown that we are a good side all season, so hopefully we can go on and improve from here.

"As for the cup, Colchester seem to be a similar proposition to Bournemouth, so we have to feel that we can go on and win again."