No room for error as title hopefuls enter finishing straight

WITH only three sets of fixtures remaining, it is odds-on that the Lake Garage CLL title race will be decided this weekend when clubs face double-headers.

Heywood, who have a six-point lead at the top and are clearly in the driving seat, are hot favourites as they will clearly fancy their chances of beating Littleborough at home and struggling Ashton away.

But Oldham and Crompton, both of whom still entertain hopes of winning the championship, must concentrate on their own performances.

Oldham, in second place, have a tricky fixture at in-form Milnrow on Saturday, while Sunday sees them entertain a Rochdale team who must be looking forward to the end of a season which has brought them nothing but disappointment after last year’s title-winning campaign.

Crompton are eight points behind Heywood and share third place with Norden, so they still have an outside chance providing they can get their act together and results elsewhere go their way.

Unsworth’s home ground has been extremely wet in recent weeks, so prospects for Saturday’s visit are hardly bright given a poor forecast for later in the week.

Sunday’s visitors to Glebe Street are local rivals Werneth and Crompton know that derby matches can be tricky despite what the league table might suggest.

Werneth, who are occupying the wooden spoon position, warm up for their trip to Crompton with a home game against Monton and Weaste, who will be returning to the scene of their Wood Cup final triumph over Heywood.

Royton, meanwhile, will be looking to return to winning ways at home to Ashton on Saturday before a trip down the road to Middleton the following day.

Fixtures:

Saturday: Clifton v Middleton; Heywood v Littleborough; Milnrow v Oldham; Rochdale v Radcliffe; Royton v Ashton; Unsworth v Crompton; Walsden v Norden; Werneth v Monton and Weaste.

Sunday: Ashton v Heywood; Crompton v Werneth; Littleborough v Walsden; Middleton v Royton; Monton and Weaste v Clifton; Norden v Unsworth; Oldham v Rochdale; Radcliffe v Milnrow.

Matches start at 12.45pm.