Clinical Carroll can lift Mossley

NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL: JOINT-manager Peter Band believes teenage strike sensation Dougie Carroll could play a major role in firing Mossley towards the Evo-Stik Division One North promotion shake-up.

Plucked from Winsford United in August, 18-year-old Wythenshawe lad Carroll is currently on fire for the in-form Lilywhites.

He has scored nine goals in his last eight games, with the team winning seven in nine as they now sit menacingly in 10th place, having started the season poorly.

After Carroll had bagged again in Tuesday’s 2-1 win against Lancaster, Band said: “Dougie reminds me of me when I was scoring lots of goals when I first joined Hyde United. He’s much more clinical than I was, though. When he goes through on goal you just feel he’s going to score.

“I’m looking for him to get 20 to 25 goals this season.”

Band, whose Mossley squad are ‘buzzing’ thanks to their upturn in fortunes, will welcome back defender Kyle McGonigle for tomorrow’s trip to eighth-placed Northwich Victoria after a seven-game suspension.

But striker Wayne Welbeck, defender James Blair and midfielder Lewis Nightingale are all still out.



CHADDERTON face a test of their credentials when they entertain mid-table Premier Division outfit Ashton Athletic in the second round of the North-West Counties League Challenge Cup.

The Broadway side will have a full-strength squad available from which to choose, with joint-manager Mark Cook seeking a response to last weekend’s disappointing home reverse against Athersley Recreation in the FA Carlsberg Vase.



OLDHAM BORO are in action tonight (8pm kick-off) when they travel to Widnes Vikings for a North-West Counties First Division fixture.