RAMSBOTTOM UNITED's UniBond League aspirations will be put to the test on Monday night when neighbours Radcliffe Borough come calling at the Riverside, writes STEVE BOTT.

The Rams backroom staff have already stated that promotion to the UniBond Division One is their aim this coming season after previously being content with life in the North West Counties League, despite being up with the promotion pack in Division One for the last two seasons.

Ground improvements have been made and everything is geared up towards promotion, although manager Mike Kelly was dealt a body blow when four of his key players left to join Rossendale United, who moved up into UniBond Division One from North West Counties Division One last season.

Moves have been made to replace those players, with striker Aaron Scott coming down from the North East and midfield man Nick Fitzpatrick, who both scored in the 6-0 win at Padiham last Saturday.

Fitzpatrick has been playing in the Middleton Sunday League and was brought down to the club by assistant manager and goalkeeper Keith Nield, himself a former Middleton Sunday League player with Crown FC.

A hat-trick from Russell Brierley and another goal from midfielder Steve Brennan completed the scoring at Padiham and Kelly will be hoping for more of the same at Nelson tomorrow, particularly from Brennan.

He has had a tough time of it since returning from a short stint at Netherfield. A bad leg injury set him back and he has been battling to regain fitness, hence his restricted appearances last season.

He is now fit and just lacks full match fitness, which will probably see him playing a part in both games at some stage on Saturday and Monday.

Fitzpatrick will also feature and Kelly was hoping to bring in two centre halves for a trial period, possibly by the weekend.

"Everybody will get a run at Nelson tomorrow, but I will be concentrating on playing what I consider will be my first team squad against Radcliffe on Monday," said Kelly.

Centre back is a position Kelly is desperate to strengthen, with only Neil Wallace and Tony Morris fully fit and available at the moment.

Warren Brierley and Dave Roach are still on the comeback trail following serious knee injuries, with Brierley still thought to be some two months away from a return, although he has been back in training during the pre-season.

But Kelly summed up the determined mood in the Ramsbottom camp when he said: "Nobody is guaranteed a place in the side. It is up to them to prove to me they are good enough."