DENIS Underwood's last visit to Congleton was not a happy occasion.

It was several years ago when Underwood took over at the Showground with just 19 games left and when Harwood were 13 points adrift at the bottom of the table.

He helped the team claw their way back into survival contention and in the last game they made the trip to Congleton needing to win to stay up and condemn Congleton to the drop. Any other result and Harwood were doomed.

"It's the first time I really lost it," admitted the boss. "Their goalkeeper should have been sent off for handling the ball outside the area but he was only booked.

"Then in the last minutes he saved a penalty. The game ended 1-1 and we went down I think mainly because of the referee. It was infuriating."

It's not quite so drastic now but tomorrow's NWCL Division One clash is something of a relegation 'six-pointer.'

Fifth from bottom Congleton lie four points above Harwood - who are one place above the drop zone - but Underwood's side do have three games in hand.

Harwood ended an unwanted run of 15 league games without a win when they beat Warrington Town 2-1 last week.

But they then endured a Worthington Challenge Trophy knock out midweek when they lost 6-0 to Kidsgrove at the quarter-final stage.

"We trained on Wednesday night to have a laugh and get that result out of our system. Tomorrow is a no-lose game for us."

Underwood is hoping now Andy Proctor and Simon Garner are off the mark for the season, after both scoring in last week's win, that they will start chipping in with more goals.