Adam Buxton is happy to be in a promotion battle after fighting at the bottom end of the table in his first two seasons at Stanley.

The left back has secured a regular place in the Reds starting line-up this season after overcoming a freak injury last season which meant his missed six months of the last campaign.

“Last season was so disappointing on a personal level  to be missing for six months thanks to an ingrowing hair which became infected,” said the 23-year-old.

“It was a freak injury and it means it’s even nicer to be back in the team and hopefully I can keep hold of my place now.

“In last couple of seasons we have been at bottom end of table trying to stay up and fighting. Now it’s nice to be towards top of the table and looking up instead of down.”

Buxton has started the last eight league games after being in and out at the start of the campaign and now he is looking at holding onto his spot.

“When you are not playing, you are disappointed but all you can do is keep working hard and, when you get your chance, you have just got to take it and keep yourself in the team.

“This is the most competitive squad I have been involved in as nobody’s place is safe – we have competition in every position. It just shows, at Barnet, when you can take Josh Windass off and replace him with Kaid  Mohamed.”

Buxton is used to rushing up and down the left wing but is looking to increase his one-goal tally so far for the Reds.

“I don’t mind getting up and down the wing and I like to get forward as much as I can from left back – I do just need to work a bit more on the getting back!

“It would be nice to add goals. I am taking set-pieces and will be nice to score a few of those.”

And he admitted the win at Barnet was massive after suffering the loss to Oxford in the previous game.

“After a defeat, you are always looking to bounce back as quickly as possible and it’s nice to get the three points in the end.

“We were hanging on a little bit when they threw everyone forward at the end but it’s nice to get the three points and get ourselves back on track.

“When you are on a good run you are going to get setbacks, it’s just how you react to them. Hopefully we can get on another run now and kick on and try and go another eight games unbeaten.”