CHORLEY can do themselves and Accrington a favour if they win at second-placed Burscough tomorrow.

The Magpies dropped two more vital points at home to bottom-of-the-table Whitley Bay last weekend.

But they still boast one of the best away records in the UniBond First Division and manager Ken Wright is confident they can keep that going and dent the Merseysiders promotion hopes.

"They are going very well at the minute but we've done very well away from home and I hope that continues," said Wright.

Neil Mitchell and Adam Critchley are both back after one match bans but Simon Kay is still suspended.

ROSSENDALE United boss Micky Graham has set his side a target of 12 wins between now and the end of the season - starting with tomorrow's clash against promotion rivals Newcastle Town.

"It's going to be a hard task for anyone to catch Vauxhall now so a positive result is vital for both teams tomorrow," said Graham.

"We've got to put a run together between now and the end of the season if we want to catch them.

"And I think that means we need to win about a dozen games or so."

That's likely to be a tall order for Dale but they could be boosted by the imminent first team return of John Borland, who is hoping to play a full 90 minutes with the reserves this weekend.

"John's not far away now and, hopefully, he should be back soon."

Otherwise, Graham has a clean bill of health.

GREAT HARWOOD TOWN are expected to have Neil Otley back in their midfield as they look to complete a double over Abbey Hey in the First North Western Trains League First Division.

Otley scored a hat-trick when Harwood won 5-1 at home earlier this season and should be fit to return following an ankle injury.

Damian McKay is in line for his first start and boss Denis Underwood is looking for a few pointers from his side before Monday night's re-scheduled Floodlit Cup clash at home to Salford City.

"You can keep a certain interest going in seeing how high you can get up the league but it helps to still be in a cup and if we can get through on Monday night we will be in the semi-finals," said Underwood, who has allowed John Morrey to return to Maine Road and established Lee Kennedy as his number one keeper.

CLITHEROE are looking to get their promotion push back on track against Salford City tomorrow after losing ground on the leaders following last weekend's defeat against Prescot.

"This is a big, big test for us coming off the back of last weekend's defeat," said Blues boss Steve Parry.

"Salford beat us in October then we went on a run where we didn't lose again until two weeks ago.

"We need another run like that now if we are to get promotion."

However, influential duo Neil Spencer and Paul Whalley are both missing again tomorrow.

And Parry has revealed it could be a couple of weeks yet before they are ready to return.

BACUP are looking to consolidate their place in the higher reaches of the FNWTL Second Division after going off the boil in recent weeks.

However, one plus point has been the emergence of a number of young players, with 16-year-old left-back Chris Skarrett the latest to come through.

He made a debut as a substitute at Formby last week and will keep his place in the squad for tomorrow's trip to Daisy Hill.

Manager Brent Peters is also hoping that Paul Lyons will be fit after hamstring trouble and could have recent signing from Rossendale Amateurs, central defender Matt Pope, available along with Liam Boardman and Richard Stephens.

"There's not a lot wrong we just need a win under our belts. Hopefully once we get back to winning ways we can go on a run again," said Peters, who had his players watching coaching videos in one of their mid-week training sessions.

COLNE will be bidding to end a jinx and build on a 3-0 win in their last outing a fortnight ago when they travel to Squires Gate.

"They've always been a bit of a bogey team for us," admitted player-manager Denzil Hart.

"We've never managed to beat them. They've always managed to get at least a point even in games when we should have won."

Injuries continue to plague the Holt House men and striker Vidal Spaine is also unavailable. But Hart, who has a doubt over Tony Lawler, will have Shaun Gibbon free from suspension and is also hoping that Joe Warner, Mark Towers and Dave Armitt will be fit.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED will have Warren Brierley back from suspension as they take on Bootle at home tomorrow.

Jamie Ramplin made a surprise comeback from injury last week so Ken Bridge has a full squad to choose from.

"Bootle were heavily beaten by Salford last week so we will have to be on our guard for a backlash," said secretary John Maher.

FORMER Chorley striker Peter Thomson has been on trial with Scottish Premier Division outfit Hearts.

Thomson moved to Dutch club NAC Breda from Lancaster City last season and has now prompted interest from the Edinburgh club.

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