CLITHEROE manager Lee Sculpher believes his side are in a better position to challenge for the North West Counties League championship than they were this time last season.

If results go their way tomorrow then the Blues could be just three points behind First Division leaders Mossley, and they still have three games in hand.

"It was a good boost with Mossley getting beat last weekend, but it's up to us to maintain the form we've shown over the last month in the league and cup competitions," said Sculpher, whose side entertain Squires Gate tomorrow.

"When we were losing last week at Trafford, I reminded the players what it felt like to miss out on promotion last season and how slipping up in games like that could cost us again.

"It seemed to spur them on because we played really well in the second half."

Stuart Parkinson (thigh) is Clitheroe's only doubt for tomorrow.

BRENT Peters is set to land in trouble with the North West Counties League following an outburst at the referee in last Saturday's 4-2 win over Newcastle Town.

The Bacup Borough manager was incessant, claiming that the Newcastle goalkeeper should have been sent off in the first 20 minutes for a foul on Darren Emmett.

Peters said: "Darren thrives on goals and when he is faced with an empty net, there's no way he's going to dive. The lad was blatantly tripped and the official failed to award a penalty knowing he would have had to send the goalkeeper off.

"Rules are rules, and while I have broken them by calling him a cheat to his face, I make no apologies. If the incident had happened in the 85th minute a penalty would have been awarded and the keeper would have gone.

"I wasn't sent off, I walked off but my outburst will be reported and I deserve to get what's coming."

After seeing off Newcastle, Borough will be looking for more success against a team above them when they go to fourth-placed Fleetwood Town in NWCL Division One tomorrow.