Town aim to grab first-leg advantage

OLDHAM Town will be aiming to establish home rule in the first leg of their Vodkat North-West Counties League’s First Division Trophy semi-final against Padiham tomorrow.

Manager Tony Mills is seeking an advantage to take to Padiham for the return tomorrow week.

He said: “We won’t be going out tentatively because we don’t want to go into the second leg without a lead.

“We have already beaten Padiham at home in the league and we will be going out with the same attitude.”

Mills hopes to have Leon Melia available to replace Lee Neville, who begins a ban for his sending-off against Wigan Robin Park three weeks ago.

New loan signing Dave Brooke’s debut will be delayed as he is ineligible for both legs of the semi-final.

Brooke had been due to make his first appearance for Town last Saturday, but was ruled out through illness.

Goalkeeper Matty Blair looks set to return after a hand injury. He came on as a second-half substitute in last Saturday’s 2-1 win at Wigan Robin Park after Danny Pearson was injured.




CHADDERTON have a difficult away game at Cheadle Town in the first division of the Vodkat NWCL.

The Broadway club will again send out a patched-up side with six regulars still missing.

Manager Paul Buckley was pleased with the way his replacements performed in the 2-1 defeat at Staffordshire side Eccleshall last Saturday.

Buckley believes that if Chadderton can cut out basic defensive errors - both goals at Eccleshall were the result of howlers - his side can finish the campaign strongly.

Chadderton reserves are at AFC Liverpool tomorrow.


MOSSLEY are at home to play-off contenders Ossett Albion tomorrow as the two teams meet for the first of two games in the space of three days in UniBond League, division one north.
The Lilywhites play Albion away on Tuesday and manager Chris Willcock describes both as key games in Mossley’s bid to make a late charge from mid-table to a play-off place.

Willcock has been pleased with the response of his team since Mossley’s 6-1 defeat at Colwyn Bay at the end of January. Mossley have collected seven points from a possible nine.


MOSSLEY reached the final of the Manchester Premier Cup when they defeated New Mills 2-1 at Seel Park last night.

Danny Dignan fired the Lilywhites ahead in the second minute and Lee Blackshaw sealed victory with a 25th-minute volley. Carlos Meakin pulled a goal back for the Millers late in the first half.

Mossley, though to their first Manchester Premier Cup final since 1990, play Droylsden at Boundary Park on Wednesday, April 29.