GREAT HARWOOD manager Denis Underwood will renew acquaintances with an old enemy when his side travel to Burscough.

The Reds boss knows all about John Davidson's men from his days at Clitheroe and it was Burscough who beat Harwood 5-2 in Underwood's first game in charge.

Although the Showgrounders have vastly improved since then they suffered a setback at home to Radcliffe last week and need to get back to winning ways quickly to keep alive any survival hopes.

"I was very disappointed to lose last week after the run we'd had," said Underwood.

"In our previous few games we looked solid at the back but Neil Kennedy wasn't fit to face Radcliffe so I had to change a few things around and that unsettled us a bit. "But we've now got three games in five days, one of which is against Congleton, so we can't afford to be despondent.

"We've just got to get our form going again and start another little run."

Kennedy and Mark Henshaw should be fit to return tomorrow but Martin Horsfield won't be back after suspension until Monday's crunch home game with Congleton.

NELSON manager John Bailey will welcome back striker Jonathan Irvine with open arms for tomorrow's home game with Maghull.

The Blues boss has seen his striking power badly reduced in recent weeks with no less than SIX players ruled out through injuries and work commitments.

The return of last season's leading scorer should go someway to solving his selection headache, although a toe injury is still preventing Mark Robinson from making his 'debut' after re-signing from Great Harwood.

Craig Whittaker and Chris Halstead are also unavailable and Michael Hunt is nursing a head injury but he could be back for the Easter Monday clash with Bacup. RAMSBOTTOM UNITED will be looking to put one over former assistant boss Paul Cuddy when his Nantwich Town side visit The Riverside.

Cuddy quit the Rams earlier this season to take up the hot seat at the Cheshire outfit and got his managerial career off to the perfect start with a crushing victory over his old club.

"That performance really was dire, looking back, but it's very difficult to envisage us playing that badly again," said secretary John Maher.

"I'm sure Paul will see this game as a bit of a special occasion and he'll want to put one over us, I've no doubts about that.

"But we have a point to prove and I'm sure our lads will want to set the record straight." Steve Brennan will be missing because of work commitments and Danny Goodhall is still sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, the club's reserve side are the new NWTL Reserve Division North champions after beating Chadderton 3-0 last week.

Managers Gary Mills and Mike Feeney have done a superb job all season and the side boasts an impressive 100 per cent league record with 14 wins from 14 games.

ROSSENDALE UNITED'S young guns have raised the spirits of everyone connected with the cash-strapped Dark Lane club in recent weeks.

While the club's directors search for a solution to their financial problems, manager Micky Graham has put his faith in youth and it is paying instant dividends on the pitch.

The average age of the squad is 21 at present and should United beat high-flying Vauxhall GM at home tomorrow, it will be their sixth win in seven games.

"The lads are really enjoying themselves at the moment and that's what it's all about," said Graham.

"We're looking forward to every game which is surprising because our season could have fallen apart because of all the problems off the field. But it's nice to see that kind of confidence in young players."

Danny Heys is back after a hamstring injury, but John Richardson is out suspended. BACUP have no game tomorrow but take on Nelson at Victoria Park on Monday.

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