Mossley’s positive thinking

Non-league FOOTBALL: MOSSLEY joint-boss Peter Band is targeting a return to the top half of the Evo-Stik Division One North table.

It’s been a roller-coaster first season in charge at Seel Park for Band and Lloyd Morrison.

It started poorly as players left, improved as new players rallied to push them into the top half of the table by November, then saw them drop again as eight straight defeats put them close to the relegation zone.

But recent wins over Radcliffe Borough and Prescot Cables have zoomed Mossley into 16th place, 13 points clear of relegation candidates Radcliffe.

Tomorrow, the Lilywhites host rock-bottom Ossett Albion, and Band is looking up: “It’s quite tight in mid-table – a couple of quick victories and we can be up to 12th or 11th, and of course back in the top half. Our season wouldn’t look so bad then, considering we hardly had any players when we came in in the summer.

“We are in the semi-final of Manchester Premier Cup this month, too, so top half and a cup final would probably be a satisfactory return at the end of the season.”

Dean Warburton returns from suspension tomorrow, but Phil Drummond, Charlie Anderson and Wayne Welbeck are all injury doubts.



CHADDERTON’S Dale Latham has been named the North-West Counties League First Division’s Goalkeeper of the Month for January.

Latham has only recently returned to Chaddy’s starting line-up after a holiday. His performances in the three games during January were immense.

In the match at Leek CSOB which Chadderton won 4-1, Latham made important saves at crucial stages, getting the better of two one-on-one situations and tipping a great shot over the crossbar. His handling and positioning were spot-on, too.

Latham turned in another impressive 90 minutes at home to Formby, in a game played in poor conditions.

Chaddy joint-boss Mark Cook said: “Dale’s a top-drawer ‘keeper so he deserves his award. His attitude is first-class.”

Chadderton and Oldham Boro are without fixtures tomorrow. Both return to action on Saturday week. Chaddy entertain Widnes Vikings, while Boro will host Nelson.