Band demands a response to cup calamity

RETURN TO THE FOLD . . . Mossley's Tom Dean

MOSSLEY joint-boss Peter Band is targeting a big response from his players following last weekend's FA Cup thrashing at Ashton Athletic.

The Lilywhites are going well in the Evo-Stik League Division One North this term, but at Hallmark Security League outfit Athletic, they were sent spiralling to a humiliating 7-2 defeat.

Band said: "It pains me to say it, but Ashton wanted it more than my team did last weekend.

"That's the first time I think I've ever said that.

"Myself and Lloyd (fellow joint-boss Morrison) always try to instil a never-say-die into the players, but that just wasn't there and individual errors ended up proving very costly."

With that defeat now cast into the history books, it's sixth versus fourth tomorrow as Brighouse Town arrive at Seel Park for a potentially tasty league clash.

POSITIVE

"We've got to stay positive and if we win tomorrow, we could go second or third in the table," added Band.

"We've got Tom Dean available again now, and Kyle Harrison, so we'll hopefully get back to our best.

"We've got some really tough games coming up so we have to be well prepared."

Meanwhile, Mossley's new academy team were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup at the preliminary round stage in midweek, going down 3-0 at home to Colne.

CHADDERTON travel to Prescot Cables' ground to play Hallmark Security League rivals St Helens Town tomorrow in the FA Carlsberg Vase.

Chaddy reached the last 32 of the Vase two seasons ago.

"It'll be tough, and we are going to be missing one or two players, but as I said we've got 20 lads pushing for a shirt so we'll go there confident," said Chaddy boss Mark Howard.

"It is a massive game because of the prize money up for grabs, but if all the lads give 100-per-cent as they have been doing all season, then I firmly believe we can get something out of the game.

"The ability really is there."