last three games to not only lift himself into the thick of the Coca-Cola First Division scoring race but also to give Colts a boost in the build-up to the November 11 Martonmere Cup final.

After leading the division sharp-shooters last season with 15 goals, Weldon set himself a new target of 20 for this season. Already, after four goals in the last three games, he has five to share the lead with Boulevard's Kenny Hill.

"The service I've been getting is real good with Craig Smith coming back and Jay Bean back out,'' explained Weldon yesterday after his latest exploit -- two late goals in the 4-2 come-from-behind win over Southampton Rangers, which was Colts' first in the league.

Weldon scored a late semifinal winner last week against champions Somerset to earn Colts another meeting with Boulevard at the National Stadium.

Losses in both the Friendship Trophy and FA Cup finals at the end of last season have made Colts all the more determined to land a major trophy and Weldon would gladly sacrifice a few goals to achieve that.

"I would rather us win something than for me to win the league's goal-scoring race again,'' said the Colts top scorer. "You don't get anything for that, just bragging rights and I don't even brag!'' Weldon, 24, was three years old when Colts became the first winners of the Martonmere Cup back in 1972-73. That is still to be their only triumph in this competition, having finished losing finalists three times in the '70s. Weldon would dearly love to be the first Colts captain in two decades to hold the Martonmere Cup aloft.

"It's going to be a good game,'' he said of the final in nine days' time.

"They beat is in the league in our first game, so they'll be feeling confident. Everybody's just got to want it.

"Last year we were in two finals and figured we would get one of them. This time I think we're a bit hungrier. It would be a real disappointment if we didn't win it.'' Before taking on Boulevard, mid-table Colts have a meeting with PHC this weekend. They are unbeaten in their last three games, so another win would definitely boost them in time for the final, though Weldon insists they are not looking that far ahead.

"Right now we're taking one game at a time and not trying to look too far forward to the final,'' he said. "Only three points from eight (points) is not too good.'' Colts and Dandy Town have enjoyed mixed fortunes in the two competitions so far, Colts having gotten to the Martonmere Cup final unbeaten but not having done as well in the league, while Town are unbeaten in the league after having failed to reach the semifinals of the cup.

"I think they could possibly go through the first half with a perfect record,'' Weldon said of Town who have beaten Somerset, Boulevard, Colts and Vasco so far and have North Village and PHC as the tougher of their remaining opponents before Christmas.

If Weldon can keep scoring, then Colts could soon find themselves again in the thick of the title race.

"I've got five, Craig four and Mark (Ray) two, so it's being shared amongst us,'' he added.

After scoring just one goal at this stage last season, Weldon notched five goals in three games late in the season to pip PHC's Kenny Mills in the scoring race. He was, however, well off the 33 that Kyle Lightbourne scored the season before.

"I've got to do it over again, you can't just do it in one season,'' Weldon said. "You're only as good as your last game.

"I set 20 goals for something to strive for. At least I set a higher target, though that's not to say I'm going to be selfish to get it.

"The better the team, the more games they play. In all those cup games last season I only scored four, with 11 coming in the league.'' Kyle Lightbourne was back on the scoresheet for English Third Division side Walsall on the weekend. But his goal, right on half-time, was not enough to prevent his team from crashing to their first away loss, 2-1, as Carlisle scored in the last minute.

ELLINGTON WELDON -- `I would rather us win something than for me to win the league's goal-scoring race again.

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