Mossley have it all to play for

Non League football: 

AFTER a topsy-turvy week for Evo-Stik League Division One North play-off chasing Mossley, joint-manager Peter Band is delighted that his team still have plenty to play for with just eight league games remaining.

There was acute disappointment last Saturday when the Lilywhites slipped to defeat at lowly Brighouse Town, but they bounced back in style by seeing off fellow high-fliers Spennymoor Town 2-0 on Tuesday.

That result leaves Mossley just three points shy of Town in the final play-off place, while there is also a tasty Manchester Premier Cup final against Curzon Ashton to look forward to on April 22 at Athletic’s SportsDirect.com Park.

Band said: “It’s been a strange week. If anyone had said beforehand that we’d lose to Brighouse and then beat Spennymoor I would have laughed.

“But the lads bounced back superbly on Tuesday, and other results near the top went for us.

“Myself and (fellow joint-boss) Lloyd (Morrison) are really pleased that we’re up there fighting this season.

“We’re right in there with a shout of making the play-offs with eight games to go, whereas this time last year our season was effectively over because we weren’t going up or down.

“The cup final is a bonus, too. All the lads are really looking forward to that game as well.”

Band and Morrison will have a near full-strength squad available for tomorrow’s trip to struggling Radcliffe Borough.

Sam Robinson took a knock in midweek and is rated as 50/50 to make the Stainton Park clash, while Mike Fish isn’t ready to be risked yet having only just returned to training.



BUOYED by a terrific 3-0 win at Atherton LR in midweek, Chadderton play host to North-West Counties League First Division leaders Cammell Laird 1907 with confidence tomorrow.

Another three points for Chaddy would lift them to within touching distance of the play-off places.



OLDHAM BORO welcome mid-table Eccleshall to Seel Park. The local outfit were crushed

9-0 in midweek at AFC Darwen.