LAKE GARAGE CLL: Victory or bust for Crompton

CROMPTON go into Sunday’s showdown with Norden knowing nothing but victory will keep them in with a realistic chance of winning the CLL title.

Nine points behind leaders Heywood with only four games remaining, the Glebe Street outfit have no room for error.

DREAM

Defeat at Woodhouse Lane against a team sharing third place with them would, to all intents and purposes, end their title dream.

The same applies to Norden, however, so this promises to be a real nerve-jangler in which the side which copes best will come out on top.

Having led the league for much of the season, Crompton deserve to be in with a shout of glory as the title race enters its crucial stages.

But their recent form is a worry and Saturday’s heavy defeat at Milnrow, in which a few heads dropped and sloppiness crept in, must be forgotten and a more positive approach adopted.

Despite picking up just two points last weekend, Crompton lost only three points on Heywood so all is not lost, a remark which also applies to OLDHAM, who were soundly beaten by the leaders at Crimble on Saturday, but bounced back 24 hours later with victory over Werneth.

Oldham entertain Wood Cup winners Monton and Weaste on Sunday and, if the visitors to the Pollards are in the same mood which saw them crush Heywood last weekend, they will provide stern opposition.

Heywood, meanwhile, entertain Unsworth, for whom professional Wayne Madsen continues to pile on the runs and represents the biggest threat to the Crimble outfit.

ROYTON have not been in the greatest of form lately so the visit of Milnrow represents a stern test for Guy Lovell’s men.

And WERNETH, who are bottom following their one-run defeat against Middleton on Saturday and subsequent loss at Oldham, will be desperate to return to winnings way against a Rochdale side bowled out for only 38 by Ashton in their most recent fixture.

Sunday’s fixtures (1pm): Ashton v Middleton; Clifton v Walsden; Heywood v Unsworth; Littleborough v Radcliffe; Norden v Crompton; Oldham v Monton and Weaste; Rochdale v Werneth; Royton v Milnrow.