Mossley ready for acid test

MOSSLEY head to Durham City tomorrow aiming to end the only remaining unbeaten record in UniBond League, division one north.

And after the Lilywhites’ recent win at leaders Bamber Bridge, manager Chris Willcock says his team will travel to the North East in fine spirits.

He said: “It is a great challenge to become the first team to beat Durham in the league.

“But after wins in our last two games, away to Bamber Bridge and Woodley Sports, the boys are buoyant and looking forward to this game.”

With Mossley’s home match against Woodley Sports being called off on Saturday, Willcock watched Durham’s win at Warrington.

“Durham won 2-1 and looked a decent side, though I saw a number of areas where I thought we could get at them,” he said.

Durham have won eight and drawn their three remaining league games, but are only sixth in the table.

They face a league fixture backlog caused, in part, by reaching the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup where they lost to Histon - conqueror of Leeds on Sunday - after a replay.

Willcock, whose side are in seventh place, has no plans to bring in a striker to replace Matty Berkeley, who has joined Hyde United after only four matches.

“Matty received an offer to step up two levels he could not refuse. He goes with our good wishes,” said Willcock.

Mossley still have four strikers - Mike Fish, Danny Dignan, Danny Egan and Dave Brooke – vying for two places.


OLDHAM Town will be looking to strengthen their promotion challenge in the first division of the Vodkat North-West Counties League at home to lowly AFC Blackpool.

Striker Darren Scanlan is working, but manager Tony Mills says he has plenty of other forward options in his 20-strong senior squad.


CHADDERTON have no first-team fixture, but their seconds are at home to Bootle in the reserve division, kick-off 2pm.