ATHERTON Town and Pennington clash tomorrow in the Finnair Manchester League Premier Division, the first of two meetings on consecutive weekends.
Both go into the derby with differing, but equally important, incentives.
Last Saturday Town extended their unbeaten run to 11, the last four games without a goal conceded, with a superb performance earning a 1-0 away victory at Dukinfield Town.
"We did play very, very well," beamed manager Shaun Lynch. "Every player was outstanding and we fully deserved the win."
The all-important goal came early in the second half when Neil Lewis set Phil Hornby through to turn his marker and fire into the bottom corner. Town went on to have the upper hand, Daniel Christie twice denied by the home keeper but Town's Gary Osborne playing his part in securing all three points with an outstanding stop on a rare home team effort.
Left back Phil Reynolds was voted Town's Leighton Packaging man of the match. Lynch and his side have that league title well and truly in their sights.
Pennington have priorities of a totally different nature but equally pressing in stature.
Last weekend they added another precious point to their tally in the effort to climb clear of relegation danger with Dave Fashou scoring twice in a 2-2 home draw with Springhead. With so many different elements in the melting pot for tomorrow, the game should be an absolute cracker.
The Reserve teams of the two clubs met last Saturday in a game which finished goalless.
"We didn't perform to our capabilities," admitted Hindsford manager Peter Barry after his team's 1-1 away draw at Wythenshawe Town. "We started well but only one of the best goalkeeping displays I've seen for a long time from Scott Jones kept us within chasing distance."
The one time Jones was beaten it came from an unexpected source as one of his own defender's deflected in a shot. Chris Jolley fired home from the edge of the area on 80 minutes for the point saver. In the last few minutes Darren Briggs almost pinched the game for Hindsford hitting both the bar and the post from two free kicks.
Leigh Athletic boosted their title hopes with a 3-2 home win over top challengers Whitworth Valley. Goals came from Dave Stead, and the Wilson brothers, Rick and Danny.
Tomorrow Hindsford have home advantage in the Murray Shield Semi-Final with Wilmslow Albion the visitors to Squires Lane. Latics have no game.
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