Boro aim to rise to the challenge

NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL: TONY MILLS says his Oldham Boro side can’t wait for the visit of Cheadle Town in division one of the Vodkat North-West Counties League tomorrow.

“The players are chomping at the bit,” said the Boro boss. “The team spirit is tremendous, it’s the best I’ve ever known it.

“They are willing to work so hard for each other. Everyone could see that against Eccleshall when they came back from 2-1 down to draw 2-2.”

Mills, who has fielded inquiries from players about joining the club this week, expects to name a full contingent of substitutes for the Whitebank Stadium clash.

Duncan Philbin is available after work commitments ruled him out of last Saturday’s game, while Nick Murphy (thigh injury) and Andy Lee (mouth abscess) can also play.


MANAGER Paul Buckley is hoping to iron out Chadderton’s defensive issues before tomorrow’s Vodkat NWCL First Division Trophy tie at bottom-of-the-table Rochdale Town.

The Broadway outfit returned from an enforced four-week break with a 3-2 defeat by Holker Old Boys.

Buckley was far from downcast about the performance — Chadderton had chances to equalise late on — and blamed lapses at the back for the defeat.

He was planning to work on defending setpieces in training on the 3G at Radclyffe School last night.

Buckley said:“It’s a case of trying to rectify the problems at the back. If we can do that, then we won’t be far away.

“To be honest, it’s only silly errors that are costing us at the moment.”

New signings Leon Melia, from Oldham Boro, and Shaun Nolan, from Ashton Athletic, aren’t eligible for tomorrow’s second-round encounter.


MOSSLEY’S 14-match unbeaten run seems a distant memory after three consecutive defeats in different competitions.
Chris Willcock’s side, in need of a pick-me-up, will look to get back on track at home to Bamber Bridge in UniBond League division one north tomorrow.

The Lilywhites were missing several key players — frontman Mike Fish and Steven Moore were unavailable — in their disappointing 3-0 defeat by Lancaster City in the Challenge Cup on Tuesday night.

Mossley supporters will be hoping their side can return to something close to their best against Bamford, who sit seventh in the table.

The two teams were due to meet last weekend at Bamber, but the match was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.