DENIS Underwood emerged from the cramped Shawbridge dressing room and glowered towards the referee's door.

"I'm going to get into trouble one of these days. I'm always having words with them.

"I can't think for a minute what that first goal was disallowed for. We won. I should be happy. But they do upset me at times."

Underwood is deeply passionate about his job. Deeply passionate, in fact, about all things Clitheroe.

"As a Clitheroe lad I've played and managed the club. That makes me very proud indeed. Walking out Wembley for the FA Vase final was the greatest moment of my life.

"But I want that to be the start for the club. There is no doubt in my mind that we could sustain UniBond League football at Shawbridge. I want to get Clitheroe further up the non-league pyramid." An impressive unbeaten start to the league campaign has left Clitheroe sharing top spot with Mossley after nine games of the First Division campaign. Clitheroe visit Mossley tomorrow.

"We've lost just one game this season when we went out of the FA Cup to Trafford. I'm pleased with our start," he added.

"Our original target was 20 points from the first 10. We've got 19 from nine and that's not a bad return.

"There are a lot of expectations surrounding the club from last season. There is pressure on us to do well. We've increased the profile of the club nationwide. Now we want to make another step."

Underwood and joint-manager Gary Butcher wheeled and dealed in the transfer market over the summer.

The arrival of former Burnley defender Les Thompson has added experience to the back line while the arrival of Paul Mullin, from Trafford, and Jon Penman, following spells at Southport and Marine, has boosted Underwood's attacking options. Off the field, hard-working chairman Steve Rush has recently announced plans for new dressing rooms and a terrace behind the Nursery End goal. Improvements financed by the FA Vase run and the sale of goalkeeper Carlo Nash to Crystal Palace. "We've got good facilties and we're up there with the leaders. That's where we want to stay," added Underwood. "We haven't got it quite right yet but we have a solid foundation to build on."

His unbeaten side face their sternest test of the season at leaders Mossley tomorrow.

Clitheroe are unbeaten in their opening nine games and Mossley top the division only on goal difference.

Underwood hopes to have striker Penman fit after he injured a hamstring in Saturday's 2-1 win over Prescot Cables.

"Mossley will provide a stern test for us but I'm confident that we can go there and get a result," he observed.

"This time last year we were playing well and getting beat, but it is coming together quite nicely now."

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