Bashley manager Steve Riley believes that a change of captaincy has helped his team emerge from their Southern League slump.

Riley recently appointed Gary Middleton as his new skipper – and Bash have since gone three matches unbeaten in the Premier Division.

The defender, who joined Bashley from Salisbury City in 2007, played a key role in the back-to-back victories which led Riley’s men into the top half of the table.

Bash had managed just one Southern League success in 14 matches before registering wins over play-off contenders Chesham and Chippenham.

Riley will be hoping Middleton can lead the New Forest outfit to another three-point haul when they host lowly Arlesey Town at the Recreation Ground tomorrow (3pm).

The Bash boss told the Daily Echo: “We gave Gary the skipper’s armband against Poole Town in a reserve game when I put out some first-team players. He has kept it since and we have been unbeaten.

“He is a leader. He is quite quiet and keeps himself to himself. But he is a winner and he leads by example through what he does on the pitch.

“He would admit he is not the best talker, but he wears his heart on his sleeve and leads by example from a defensive point of view.”

Middleton, who has scored nine goals in 172 appearances for Bashley, follows Jack Smith, Dave Allen and David Elm in captaining the club this term.

Riley has named an unchanged squad for tomorrow’s clash.

Bash: (from) Kearn, Smith, Finlay, Middleton, Whitley, Green, Casey, Allen, Stokoe, Gamble, Oliver, Vokes, Penny, Foster, Ferrett, Digby.