Heyside hoping to keep promotion hopes alive

CRICKET: IT’S been a quiet few weeks for Heyside thanks to bad weather and open dates.

But Ryan Barnes and his men will be eager to give their flagging promotion hopes a last push as the finishing line looms.

Heyside have seven more Championship fixtures to turn fourth place into second and a place in the top flight of the new Pennine League for 2016.

With second-placed Middleton going well and leaders Crompton almost over the horizon, Heyside can afford few slip-ups.

A crucial fixture with Middleton arrives in a couple of weeks, but before that Heyside have two must-win matches, starting at Radcliffe tomorrow. The hosts are third, three points ahead of Heyside, but have played one game more. That gives Heyside the chance to move back up the table.

Last Saturday’s washout suited Crompton well. Though Middleton picked up two points, they still trail Crompton by five points, and Wright’s men have a game in hand. Crompton play Elton tomorrow and should register win number 13 of the season.

Oldham have a recent win at Werneth to give them confidence, and a trip to Milnrow offers some hope of a follow-up given their opponents’ struggles this term.

Werneth and Royton have no game tomorrow - no bad thing for the latter, who may need time to clear their heads following Sunday’s Wood Cup defeat.