Mossley aim to bounce back

IT’S a big day of cup football tomorrow for the three local non-league teams.

Mossley are at home to Retford United in the quarter-finals of the UniBond League’s President’s Cup, while Chadderton and Oldham Town play in the Vodkat North-West Counties League’s First Division Trophy.

Mossley manager Chris Willcock is looking for a positive response to the Lilywhites’ 6-1 defeat at Colwyn Bay last Saturday.

Mossley were without three key players – captain Graham Kay, Daryl Weston and Chris Hirst – who were all injured.

Tomorrow’s visitors Retford are the runaway leaders of UniBond League division one south.

Willcock is trying to strengthen his depleted squad and has put in seven days’ notice for permission to approach two midfield men and a striker.




CHADDERTON head to Bootle for a second-round tie in the First Division Trophy.



The match has been postponed three times already and, in the event of it being called off again, it will transfer back to Broadway.

Goalkeeper Lee Swanson is out again after injuring his ankle in training last week, but Ian Knapman is back after a two-match ban which has kept him out for six weeks due to postponements. Carl Taylor also returns.




OLDHAM Town are in third-round action in the First Division Trophy at home to Stone Dominoes with a semi-final place awaiting the winners.



Town want to avenge their 4-3 defeat after extra-time at Stone a fortnight ago in the League Challenge Cup.

Manager Tony Mills is looking for his team to build on last Saturday’s 2-1 home victory against league leaders AFC Liverpool.

Goalkeeper Matty Blair is again ruled out with a hand injury while Leon Melia and Tom Hughes are also unavailable.