Get ready to battle

Non-league football:

MOSSLEY joint-manager Peter Band is hoping to capitalise on Darlington’s recent dip in form when they head to Seel Park tomorrow for an eagerly-anticipated Evo-Stik Division One North clash.

The North-East outfit got off to a flying start in their first campaign at Evo-Stik level.

But Darlington have now dropped to sixth place - only four ahead of the Lilywhites.

Martin Gray, who was assistant to Dave Penney at Boundary Park, is in charge of the visitors, with Athletic favourite Sean Gregan among his coaching staff.

Band said: “It can be tough when you enter a division as a really big fish. There’s bumper crowds following them home and away, but a lot of the time it can mean opposing teams up their game against them.

“Northwich have beaten them, Ramsbottom have beaten them, and they’ve drawn one or two at home lately. Hopefully, we can take advantage of their recent dip in form and get a positive result.

“Our lads need to roll up their sleeves and go in there ready to battle for the three points.

“We’ve done that often enough over the last couple of months. The trick is to get the lads to produce in every game we play.”

Band and fellow joint-boss Lloyd Morrison will have a near full-strength squad to choose from.

Luke McCarthy is rated doubtful due to a hamstring injury, while loan-man Tom Pratt has returned to parent club Bury.



CHADDERTON will head to new club 1874 Northwich tomorrow boosted by a welcome North-West Counties First Division victory in midweek against AFC Darwen.

That was Chaddy’s first league win in nearly three months, so they will travel to the third-placed Cheshire outfit with confidence.

Joint-manager Mark Cook said: “Tuesday’s win had been coming. We’ve put in a couple of decent performances lately, but hadn’t got the results. We need to try to replicate that form at Northwich.”