CHORLEY boss Ken Wright will give Darren Calderbank the chance to fill the void left by the departure of leading scorer Keith Evans from Victory Park.

Evans is yet to sign for a new club but is set to sever his links with the Magpies.

However, Wright has no cash to splash out on a new front man, which would rule out a possible return for transfer-listed Workington striker Matt Swailes, and will again turn to Calderbank at lowly Flixton in their UniBond League First Division clash tomorrow.

"It will give Darren an opportunity to come in and show his worth and if in due course we need to add a striker, then we will look at it," said Wright.

Simon Kay will be back following a one-match ban and Ian Leather returned to training this week following a viral infection which should make him available for the Christmas period.

However, Paul Griffin and Eric Rostron are not fit to return for a game Chorley will be looking to win to climb into the top half of the table.

"We drew 1-1 with them at home earlier in the season and were more than displeased to have thrown two points away.

"If we go there in a positive manner, which we have always done away from home, then we are capable of getting the three points," added Wright.

ROSSENDALE UNITED midfielder John Borland could be back in action sooner than anticipated after a visit to a specialist revealed he is suffering from a pinched nerve.

Graham had feared his star midfielder was suffering from something more serious.

But medical staff have now got to the root of the problem and the former Burnley apprentice is undergoing treatment.

Dale travel to high-flying Skelmersdale United in the First North Western Trains League First Division tomorrow as they bid to keep their title hopes on track. And Graham is expecting his troops to be fired up after a frustrating couple of weeks without a game.

"We won't be treating it differently to any other game," said Graham, who this week allowed keeper Daryl Sloane to join Maine Road.

"But we are all up for it because we've not played for a while."

Meanwhile, United are searching for players to join their newly-formed Under 18s side.

The team are hoping to join the Bolton Alliance League where they will play against the likes of Morecambe and Lancaster when fixtures start in the New Year.

Craig Sargeson and Vinnie Patterson have both progressed from the club's youth ranks to the first team set up in the past.

And the Dark Lane outfit are hoping to attract local young talent with similar potential.

Anyone interested should contact the club on 01706 215119 or ring Kevin Proctor on 01706 223405.

GREAT HARWOOD TOWN are hoping to get back into action with Mossley due to visit The Showground. The Reds haven't played for three weeks to leave manager Denis Underwood joking: "We're unbeaten in four games now."

But he is desperate for a fixture to try and start moving up the table again.

"We're bursting to play," said Underwood, who will be without the suspended Neil Kennedy.

"They beat us 4-1 at their place but we were the better side until they scored just before half-time. I think playing on our own pitch gives us a better chance and hopefully the lads will be up for it."

BACUP BOROUGH and NELSON will try again to stage their FNWTL Second Division Trophy at West View with a place in the last four up for grabs. Both sides are going for promotion but there's no suggestion that the cup competition will take a back seat.

"We have got to be looking to challenge for a top-two place but realistically this is our best chance of picking up a bit of silverware," said Bacup boss Brent Peters, who will be treating his players to a pre-match meal before the derby clash.

"If we win tomorrow we'll be into a two-legged semi-final and should have an extremely good chance of getting into the final.

"But it will be a tough game. I have the utmost respect for Nelson. They are a very good side, but so are we so it should be a good spectacle," added Peters, who will have striker Karl Stanley available again.

Nelson player-manager John Bailey is hoping history will repeat itself after the Blues beat Bacup en route to winning this competition a couple of years ago.

"The conditions were the same with the game having been off a few times and we will be looking for the same result," said Bailey.

"This is our cup competition and we have a realistic chance of winning it."

Nelson will be without Glen Little and Craig Whittaker.

DARWEN boss Steve Wilkes has failed in his bid to land Ashton Town striker Mike Rhead.

Wilkes had served seven days notice on the player but he has opted to join Atherton LR instead. But Mick Lynch is back after injury for the visit of Blackpool Mechanics tomorrow.

And Wilkes is confident his team can set themselves up nicely for the festive period with three points.

"Everyone expects us to win it but we haven't played for three weeks so we could be a bit rusty," said Wilkes.

"I'm just looking forward to a game, though, after all this bad weather if we apply ourselves we should be okay."

CLITHEROE boss Steve Parry takes his fourth-placed Blues to mid-table Kidsgrove Athletic knowing that a maximum points haul could in theory move his side into second place behind Vauxhall Motors in the FNWTL First Division.

The Shawbridge outfit were this week boosted by the news that former striker Steve Denny has re-joined the club from Cheadle.

Dennis Hill will be looking to keep up his recent scoring habit against Kidsgrove - the winger got the winner in the Floodlit Trophy Final triumph at Maine Road, and also scored the only goal of the game earlier this season when the two clubs met in league action.

Gary Rishton and Barry Hart are slight injury concerns, while Brian Welch is waiting for an operation and Lee Cunliffe is still suffering with an Achilles' tendon problem. On-loan Bamber Bridge strike Neil Spencer, who is operating on a match-to-match basis at Shawbridge, could also boost the side.

"One or two teams can still go past us in the league table, but a few with games in hand on us have not maximised the points recently," said Parry.

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