Mills facing selection poser

Local non-league football by TONY BUGBY


OLDHAM TOWN are hoping tonight’s home Vodkat North West Counties League first division game against Cheadle Town beats the weather as they aim to play catch-up.


Sixth-placed Town have only played seven league matches so far, half the number that Wigan Robin Park who are second, have completed.

Goalkeeper Matty Blair and midfield man Leon Melia, both unavailable for Saturday’s 6-0 victory against Ashton Town, are back tonight.

That adds to the selection dilemma manager Tony Mills is facing as he admits it is a problem keeping all the players in his squad happy.

And to complicate matters further, Town don’t have a reserve side this season which at least provided match practice for squad players.

“It is hard having to leave out players and my captain Lee Deakin has not been able to get into the team for the last two games which he is not happy about,” explained Mills.

Town have also signed Lewis Bishop from Atherton LR which means Mills has three goalkeepers to keep happy.




CHADDERTON have bolstered their strikeforce with the capture of Joe Jacobs from Uppermill.



And the youngster has had little difficulty stepping up from the Huddersfield and District League and was on target for the first time in Saturday’s 5-0 victory at Daisy Hill in the Vodkat North West Counties League First Division Trophy.

Chadderton defeated Wigan Robin Park 2-1 at home in the Reserve Division with goals from John Shaw and Chris Carruthers.