The 2010-11 Evo-Stik Premier Division season may only be a couple of weeks old, but there's been plenty to catch the eye.

Ashton United and Ossett Town were predicted to be among the bottom six before the season started by the bookies, but are the only two sides still undefeated so far, while arguably four of the biggest clubs in the league have lost once in the first four games, with last year's beaten play-off finalists Bradford Park Avenue already losing twice.

However, FC Halifax Town manager Neil Aspin isn't too surprised by the start to the new season.

"Everyone's still finding their feet at the moment, but that's what you'd expect at this stage. It was very competitive in the Unibond North last season, with not many points between the top teams until near the end and it'll probably be the same this year."

Aspin is under no illusions of the step up in class that his team have taken after winning the Northern Premier League last year, but says the Shaymen are as ambitious as any other club in the league.

"We don't have any divine right to win games and no team is going to make it easy for us at this level. We just want to be in contention at the end of the season and we'll be trying to be there at the death. We're perhaps lacking a bit of confidence at the moment, but we've got enough in the squad be competitive"

The already topsy-turvy nature of the Evo-Stik Premier can be summed up by Halifax's next opponents, Mickleover Sports. They have won one and lost three of their first four outings, but Aspin insists they will be a tough prospect for Town at the weekend.

He said: "They beat Matlock on Bank Holiday Monday, who were joint top after the first three games so that just shows the way the league is at the moment, but if we can play at our best there's no reason why we can't get a result."

Town favourite James Dean made a welcome return to action on Monday after missing the whole of pre-season through injury, but Aspin says that he is still far from full fitness, while one or two others are expected to miss out on Saturday's game.

"It was good to see James back, but he's not fit yet. Danny Lowe is still out and Aaron Hardy is struggling to make it for Saturday. Jamie Vardy did well on Monday as he was playing with painkillers so we're carrying knocks, but that's probably the same for every team."

Tom Scargill