CHORLEY manager John Hughes is convinced his team's current league placing of third from bottom in the Unibond First Division is a false position.

His team have only picked up three points from their solitary league win this season and face a tough task to attain some desperately needed points on Saturday when unbeaten leaders Ilkeston Town visit Victory Park on Saturday.

They are then faced with a trip to Kidsgrove on Monday.

But Hughes has been impressed with the effort put in by his players and feels the results don't reflect the team's performances.

He said: "The lads are working really hard and recent results have not been a true reflection of the team's command of games, particularly at Mossley, and I believe also at Clitheroe were we dominated the game.

"I am particularly pleased with the number of young players coming through and it is good to have young Neil Smith back with us after his spell with Leigh RMI.

"Neil came in at centre half at Guiseley and did everything I asked of him.

"It was good to have plenty of support at the cup match and I'm sure they appreciate what we are trying to do on the field.

"We feel we are getting there in our team-building efforts."

Lee Pennington, recently signed from Kendal, missed the FA Cup matches against Guiseley because he was cup-tied while with Kendal Town. The right back, who was Kendal's Players' Player and Supporters' Player of the Year for season 2002/2003, is expected to play

John Gillies will now be first choice goalkeeper at Chorley following the release of Michael Bingham while central defender Simon Kay is to take a break from the game.

Chorley have signed up perhaps the youngest-ever physio on the UniBond circuit in Emma Birkett.

The 22-year-old works at Euxton Hall Hospital, but in August was heavily involved in the Olympic Games.

While in Athens she was looking after athletes from Nigeria and Vietnam, and the Magpies will be hoping the "lucky touch" which she had in Greece rubs off on their players.

Emma got Nigerian sprinter Aaron Egbele to the starting blocks against the odds and having taken his place in Nigeria's 4x100m relay team Egbele and his colleagues proceeded to land a surprise bronze medal.