MICKY Graham hopes he might have discovered a bargain by adding striker Gerrard Clegg to the ROSSENDALE UNITED ranks.

Clegg has been plucked from junior football with Haslingden St Mary's and Rossendale boss Graham intends to include him in the squad for tomorrow's home game against Mossley.

"He had a trial for Morecambe before the start of the season and he's been scoring lots of goals in local football," said Graham.

Rossendale will have to check some of their injured players before finalising the squad to meet Mossley in a game that could see the team make more signifcicant progress.

"I'm also talking to another player at the moment and hopefully with a couple of new faces coming in we can continue in the same vein we showed at Maine Road," he added.

"But Mossley have a new manager, they have picked up some new players and their results have been improving. We can't take anything for granted."

HASLINGDEN have major defensive problems. John Richardson, Neil Rowbotham and Lloyd Green will all miss the game against Salford at Ewood Bridge tomorrow,

Manager Steve Parry also has doubts over Gary Rishton, though Wayne Howarth and Jimmy Clarke should be available after struggling with knocks recently.

"We need to strengthen the squad and hopefully we can make one or two signings," he said.

Haslingden have appointed a reserve team management duo in a bid to help unearth good local prospects.

Things can only get better for struggling DARWEN'S player-manager Steve Wilkes, who has lost two more key players on the eve of a tough trip to St Helens Town.

Midfielder John Whittaker could be joining Clitheroe, while central defender Neil Durkin is unavailable for a couple of weeks because of work commitments.

Whittaker's departure has upset Wilkes but he has to accept the situation where Darwen can't compete with clubs who can offer decent money to players. The Anchor boss is hoping he can hold on to top scorer Denny Khan, who has been talking to Haslingden.

Craig Shaw is still out of action with a bruised foot but Darwen should have Ian Latham back in the squad for tomorrow's league game.

"We'll give it our best shot as always and see what happens," said the manager. "Nobody gave Barnsley a chance at Liverpool, did they."

GREAT HARWOODLoan-man Russell Brierley has been recalled by Radcliffe, following his two-goal show for RAMSBOTTOM UNITED on Saturday.

That's a big blow to Ramsbottom boss Ken Bridge who had borrowed the forward to boost the club's striking power and United will also be without central defender Paul Cuddy when they visit Atherton Colleries tomorrow.

On the brighter side, goalkeeper Paul Horridge should be available again after work commitments counted him out of Saturday's unlucky defeat at the hands of Prescot. "We aren't expected to get anything from the teams in mid-table and above," said the manager.

"But the games against the other teams near the bottom, such as Atherton, are vital. We keep looking to turn the corner and then keep missing out but there's no way we should have lost against Prescot."

Bridge has cover for Cuddy and, if Brierley doesn't now get his chance at Radcliffe, he would welcome him back to Ramsbottom on a more permanent basis.

NELSON player-manager Ian Britton takes his NWCL Division Two side to Burscough tomorrow for a Challenge Cup second round tie.

Unusually, apart from long-term casualty Andy Bannister, Britton has the luxury of a full squad to choose from, with just Andy Lawson still suspended.

Britton's search for a striker continues though, and he will probably have to reshuffle his pack again tomorrow for the tie against Division One high-flyers Burscough, who have one of the most attractive set-ups and teams in NWCL football. "The pitch should suit us, because we do like to play football," said Britton, who has had a disappointing week.

A floodlight problem causing the abandonment of last Saturday's match with Maghull, then Wednesday's home game against Castleton Gabriels was postponed, and then the NWCL management committee decided that the Maghull game must be replayed.

CLITHEROE have the chance of instant revenge when they take on Vauxhall GM in the Challenge Cup at Shawbridge following their Floodlit Trophy defeat on Monday.

Denis Underwood will be without John Riley and Andrew Taylor but welcomes back Chris Grimshaw, John Morrey, Paul Lynch and Neil Baron.

"To be honest Monday's game was pretty poor," admitted Underwood. "I know we can play better. But I also know that they can play better too."

Underwood has signed former Blues attacking midfield man Shaun Bursnell from Bamber Bridge.

And is trying to sign John Whittaker from Darwen. Neither will be eligible for tomorrow's cup clash but could cvome into contention for next week's FA Vase tie.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY side to sixth-placed Guiseley for a UniBond Premier League fixture tomorrow knowing that if his Crown Ground men are going to fulfil their lofty league ambitions, the Leeds-based venue could be just the place to start. "Guiseley are not a bad side and we have got our work cut out. But if we have any aspirations to getting up the league, these are the teams we must do well against."

There are only six points separating 14th-placed Stanley from their high-flying opponents, and after losing both full-backs through injury last week, James will definitely start tomorrow without Darren Davies. Partner Wayne Dowell has only an outside chance of being fit.

BACUP BOROUGH players won't want to be reminded about the last time their club faced tomorrow's NWCL Division Two opponents Tetley Walker and conceded 10 goals ... but that's exactly what manager Brent Peters is going to do. "I am going to stress the significance of that result to the players, even though many of them weren't involved. I'll tell them this is their chance to put things right," said Peters, whose side have started to find the net regularly in recent weeks.

Striker Colin Lambert, who has aggravated a severed tendon in his hand, is a "seriously doubtful starter," and forward Alex Binnie's hamstring is still causing concern.

Andy Jones is ready to start a suspension, but a ripped calf muscle would have ruled him out anyway. However, keeper Adam Potts has a 50/50 chance of making the starting line-up after badly bruising stomach muscles last week.

COLNE travel to take on second-bottom club Daisy Hill in the NWCL Division Two tomorrow knowing that they will be without the services of forward Nigel Coates until the New Year owing to work commitments.

Player-manager Denzil Hart paid tribute to veteran Geoff Payton - back in squad tomorrow - and chairman David Blacklock, for helping the Holt House side to make steady progress while he was away on family business on the West Indies island of St Kitts.

Keeper Hadrian Thorne and full-back Paul Sconce are still struggling to recover from injury, and Sean Giblin continues a lengthy suspension.

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