Derby thriller on the cards

CHADDERTON entertain Oldham Town on Boxing Day in an eagerly-awaited derby in the first division of the Vodkat North-West Counties League.

Both clubs are in the mix for promotion. Town are fourth in the table, five points behind leaders AFC Liverpool with two games in hand, while Chadderton are sixth.

Town manager Tony Mills is expecting Chadderton to be smarting after they lost 5-0 at Irlam last Saturday.

Mills is also aware that the clubs have met four times in the last five years on Boxing Day and Chadderton have won three times and drawn the other.

He said: “It is difficult to predict how these games will turn out. It is all about local rivalry and standing up and being counted. If we do that, I believe we will win.”

Mills welcomed back striker James Curley last Saturday after a near four-month lay-off with two broken bones in his foot.

He came on for the last 20 minutes of the home win against Norton United, but Mills says it will take him four or five games to regain his match sharpness.

Chadderton boss Paul Buckley, meanwhile, believes his side can put last week’s defeat at Irlam behind them.

“It is one of those games you want to forget and I am hoping it is simply a one-off because we had been doing well,” he said.

Chadderton are likely to be without Tony Hanlon and Ian Knapman due to work commitments, but Nick Fraine is back from university.




MOSSLEY are also in derby action on Boxing Day at Curzon Ashton in UniBond League, division one north.



The two teams meet again at Seel Park on New Year’s Day and with both on the fringe of the play-off places, these are games which could have a big impact on their respective campaigns.

The Lilywhites lost 4-3 at Curzon in the FA Cup in mid-October and will be keen to avenge that loss.

“We learned a lot from that game and have tightened up at the back and grown in self-belief and confidence since then,” said Mossley manager Chris Willcock.

“Both teams know each other well and I expect them to be two tight games which could be settled by a piece of brilliance, a mistake or a controversial refereeing decision.”