AN injury to the team's star striker gave young Mohammad Qasim a chance at Campion this season, and it is one he has grabbed with both hands.

He came in from Yorkshire Amateur League side Athletico after ripping the league up at that level, and the step up in class has proven no barrier for him.

He has scored a goal a game for Campion this season and the club's joint-manager Lee Ashforth, was quick to praise him.

Speaking about Qasim, he said: "He's a great lad who has bags of potential, and he's still only young.

"We had Omar Habeeb scoring our goals at the start of the season. He hit seven goals but then did his cruciate ligaments.

"That meant Mohammad came into the team and he hit the ground running. He's got 11 in 11 and he's become influential.

"He needs to keep on his toes but we also need to manage him properly, to make sure he suffers no burnout.

"Bringing in someone like him just shows how much local talent there is in Bradford."

Ashforth will hope the local lad shines again in a big home game with Glasshoughton Welfare this Saturday in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Division One.

Welfare sit fourth, with Campion dropping down to fifth after successive defeats to Dronfield Town and Skegness Town.

Ashforth said: "We were on a good run, with 10 wins in a row. but it's a tough period at the moment.

"We lost to Skegness last Saturday who are top and now we've got Glasshoughton, who've won six or seven on the trot to move up into the promotion spots.

"Their manager brings a good togetherness to the side and good spirit goes a long way at this level.

"When we played up at their place (and lost 3-0) earlier in the season, they were up for it, although we had done the Three Peaks challenge the week before.

"They've also got Nathan Perks up front, who scores all their goals."

Perks may find it tough to add to his incredible tally of 24 goals this season, including 17 in the league, when he visits Campion tomorrow, as the Red and Blacks boast a fine home record.

The Glasshoughton game kicks off a run of five home league games in six, which is music to Ashforth's ears.

He said: "We've been good at home this season and I'm a big believer in, if you win your home games and pick up points away, then you'll be in and about there at the end of the season.

"Our target is to average two points a game this season. We were well in front of that target earlier in the season but we've gone behind it with defeat to Skegness.

"If we can get back to that, and we're still there by the last 10 games, then we'll be challenging."

Campion have added a new player to the ranks to help them with that challenge. Midfielder Charlie Flaherty has signed for the club from Bradford rivals Thackley, having also previously played for Eccleshill United.