NELSON chief John Bailey is hoping Carl Howarth continues his recent goalscoring streak against rivals Colne in the NWCL Division Two clash tonight.

Former Everton trainee Howarth has returned to Nelson until the end of the season. The young striker came to Victoria Park after being released from Goodison Park, then moved onto Burscough in the UniBond League before being signed by Rossendale.

He had struggled to make an impact in the Dale first team and so returned to Nelson until the end of the season.

And he has scored five goals in the last three games to help the Blues to a four game unbeaten run.

"He has come to us, is scoring goals and it has increased his confidence," said boss Bailey ahead of tonight's clash at Victoria Park. "We have been creating chances and just not putting them away and Carl seems to be the answer at the moment."

Colne striker Jonathan Irvine is expected to face his old club Nelson - when the two sides met last month the frontman was suspended. Colne won that match 2-1 and Bailey wants revenge.

"We are going into it on the back of a run and with a bit more confidence," admitted the manager whose side will replace Colne in eighth spot if they win.

Colne will be without their star striker Paul Fildes who boss John Lister said 'has been given the boot.'

"The lads are up for it and want to put March out of the way after a difficult month," said Lister.

"We have nothing to prove but if we win, then Nelson will have to win both their games in hand to overtake us. It won't be easy for them to finish as top dogs."