Finishing line close for trio of local clubs

NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL: A HECTIC Easter spell is in store for Mossley, Chadderton and Oldham Boro, who all play twice during the penultimate weekend of the non-league season.

All three sides wrap up their campaigns on April 26. The Lilywhites, buoyed by last weekend’s terrific 3-0 away Evo-Stik League Division One North win at Burscough, host fellow mid-table outfit Ossett Town tomorrow, then on Monday head to a fourth-placed Bamber Bridge side who look likely to be contesting the end-of-season promotion play-offs.

Meanwhile, it’s ‘derby’ day in the North-West Counties League First Division tomorrow, when Boro host Chadderton at their current Alder Street base, the home of Atherton Collieries FC.

It won’t be the last long-distance derby, with Boro chairman Mark Kilgannon revealing this week his club had signed to share with Collieries for at least one more season. The hunt for an Oldham base continues.

Boro and Chaddy are both in a lower mid-table position, but fortunes have been contrasted over the last couple of games. Boro have hit the goal trail, winning 3-2 at AFC Darwen last weekend and then losing a 4-3 thriller against Ashton Town on Monday, while Chaddy’s last two matches saw them beaten 3-0 at Darwen and 2-0 at Cheadle Town.

On Monday, Boro are away at Leek CSOB, while Chadderton travel to Irlam.