SOCCER: Non-League preview

Kay has been sorely missed after sitting out the last four games following his controversial sending off against Clitheroe in the Marsden Trophy.

And after watching the Magpies ship four against Bradford Park Avenue last weekend in a performance Wright described as totally unacceptable, he can't welcome him back quickly enough.

"I'm delighted Simon is back in the frame because we've really missed him," said Wright.

Chorley begin a run of three games at Victory Park and Wright sees this as the perfect chance for his side to start improving on their wretched home form.

"From what I've heard of Eastwood, they are a young side who like to play football so their style of play should suit us.

"But they'll still be smarting themselves after getting beat 7-1 off Accrington last weekend so we've got to be wary of that."

Paul Fleming and Adam Critchley are both doubtful through injury but Jon Senior also returns from suspension.

BACUP BOROUGH boss Brent Peters is out for revenge when Tetley Walker visit West View tomorrow.

Borough crashed 3-2 at Walker's Long Lane ground six weeks ago but it was a game Peters believes his side never should have lost.

"We owe them one after that because we clawed our way back from 2-0 down only to hand them victory on plate because of a howler by our keeper," said Peters. The loss of several key players through injury appear to have ended Borough's hopes of promotion.

But Peters is far from down beat.

"When you lose a couple of key players like that then you are always going to have a problem.

"But we haven't become a bad side over night.

"We are just suffering a bit of a stutter in form at the moment."

Peters' injury problems should ease somewhat with the return of Richard Stevens and Jimmy Gemmill tomorrow.

And Mark Rostron may also be in contention again after a reserve team run out.

DARWEN boss Steve Wilkes has set his side a target of seven points from their next three games as the FNWTL Second Division promotion race starts to hot up.

The Anchormen travel to inform Squires Gate tomorrow before meeting league leaders Curzon Ashton next week and bogey side Woodley Sports the week after.

"We need at least seven points from these next three games because they are a massive," said Wilkes.

"Whatever happens in the next two weeks could shape the rest of our season."

Darwen have 10 games left - including tomorrow's clash - and Wilkes believes his side need to win at least seven or maybe eight to guarantee promotion. David Barnes and Mick Lynch are both struggling with hamstring problems and leading scorer Paul Baker is doubtful with a thigh strain.

Carl Greenwood picked up an ankle injury in CLITHEROE'S midweek Marsden Cup defeat against Bamber Bridge and is doubful for tomorrow's match at home to Bootle.

Blues boss Steve Parry is hopeful his side can get back on the winning track.

"We have to bounce back from that defeat and we will do that if we can start taking our chances," he said.

"We made plenty of chances against Bamber Bridge but we have to start sticking the ball in the back of the net."

Neil Spencer, Martin Horsfield and Gary Rishton all return to the squad, but Paul Whalley is still out injured.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED visit Atherton LR tomorrow looking for their first ever goal there.

On their two previous visits United have failed to hit the back of the net.

But with Atherton LR struggling at the bottom of the table and having leaked some 88 goals from their 33 games Ken Bridge's men will be hoping to end that record - and collect three points in the process.

Bridge has a doubt over central defender Mike Smith.

NELSON manager John Bailey has problems with holidays and work commitments for the tough trip to Formby as his promotion march enters crunch phase.

With Simon Burrows away through work commitments, Bailey has turned to young Ramsbottom keeper Simon Hewitt to make his debut.

Hewitt, a 17-year-old from the Nelson area, has just forced his way back from a knee injury.

Two other forwards, Mark Robinson and Neil Chapman are also unavailable, through work commitments and holidays respectively. Dave Lee has been brought into the squad and, although Johnny Naylor is back from holiday, Colin Wright is another absentee on vacation.

Bailey said: "Formby is always a tough place to go to. The pitch isn't the best and they are a typically tough Liverpool outfit.

"But, it doesn't really matter who we are playing, we need three points from every game."

ROSSENDALE UNITED boss Micky Graham has set his players the target of an unbeaten run until the end of the season, starting with tomorrow's home clash with Atherton Collieries.

Rossendale lie just off the promotion pace, but have games in hand on Clitheroe.

Jamie Smith and Shawn Bursnell impressed in midweek at St Helens and will retain their places in the squad.

Steve Cunningham is available again after being cup tied, and Vinnie Patterson is also back in the frame for selection.

Matt Houldsworth is another to return, although John Borland is still not ready.

Graham said: "In March we play Vauxhall, Mossley and Prescot, so we have to be applying ourselves and go out to win the next few games. "We don't have to be frightened of anybody and I'd like to think we could go unbeaten until the end of the season. The players have a lot to prove for next season as well."

GREAT HARWOOD defender Neil Otley is back from suspension for their trip to Nantwich.

Manager Denis Underwood is still smarting from last weekend's defeat at home to Leek CSOB and hopes his side can get back on the winning trail at Harrison Park.

"We gave a couple of soft goals away then couldn't score when we got the chances," said Underwood. So we need to put that right tomorrow."

Clive Dunn and Nick Grogan are back in training after injury but are still someway from full fitness.

COLNE travel to Woodley Sports tomorrow in the FNWTL Second Division.

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