Oldham Town bid to keep up with promotion leaders

JANUARY will be a make-or-break month for Oldham Town, according to manager Tony Mills.

Town kick off a crucial run of fixtures tomorrow at home to Leek CSOB in the first division of the Vodkat North-West Counties League.

Mills said: “We have three cup quarter-finals in January, as well as league fixtures against Leek and leaders AFC Liverpool.

“I would have thought that by the end of the month we will have a clearer idea about where we will be.”

Town are in fifth place in the league, only seven points behind AFC Liverpool with two games in hand.

They are at home to Curzon Ashton on Tuesday in the quarter-finals of the Manchester Premier Cup and have forthcoming games against Ashton Town in the First Division Trophy and Stone Dominoes in the Vodkat League Challenge Cup.

Midfield man John Joyce is a major injury doubt for tomorrow’s game after hurting his shin in the Boxing Day game against Chadderton, but right-winger Alex Dibley is back from holiday.

Mills will include new signing Kamil Zimowski in the squad for the first time following the 25-year-old Polish striker’s capture from Manchester League club Prestwich Heys.




CHADDERTON, who are sixth, entertain lowly Daisy Hill tomorrow as they bid to remain in the promotion picture in the first division of the Vodkat NWCL.



Manager Paul Buckley was delighted with the character shown as Chadderton hit back from the 5-0 defeat at Irlam with a spirited goalless draw against Oldham Town on Boxing Day.

Buckley, whose side played almost half the game with 10 men after Ian Knapman’s sending-off, said: “It was a fantastic response from the players.

“We had a chat about the Irlam game and I told the players I also took responsibility for the defeat by changing the system we played.

“I switched back to 4-4-2, having played 3–5–2 at Irlam, and we had a better shape.”

Chadderton reserves are at home to Glossop North End.




MOSSLEY, whose home game with Curzon Ashton yesterday was frozen off, are next in action on Tuesday at Maine Road in the quarter-finals of the Manchester Premier Cup.