Non-League preview by JOHN BULLEN
THERE'S a North West Counties League derby treat tomorrow at Crilly Park Atherton as LR entertain Ramsbottom United.
Promoted Rovers have started life in Division One impressively giving one of the pre season title favourites Salford City a real scare before going down 2-1 on the opening Saturday and in midweek drawing 1-1 with another side well fancied to be a promotion contender Clitheroe.
With 23 teams in the division, the Rams have no fixture but they got their season underway in midweek with a 2-0 home win over Fleetwood Freeport.
"A three point opener was nice but it was a stuttering opener," admitted United secretary John Maher. "Going to LR will be a really, really tough game. They've come up and already started well. We have lost three players from last season Chris Wilcock, Darren Bowman and Mike Smith who have all gone to Unibond side Rossendale but we've signed some really good young lads but it may take a while for things to settle down."
One booster on the horizon for United is that highly rated centre back Warren Brierley looks set for an October comeback after missing virtually the hole of last season through injury.
Atherton Colls have no fixture tomorrow but on Bank Holiday Monday entertain Glossop North End.
The Alder House outfit started with a 2-1 home defeat by Skelmersdale United but hit top form on Monday with a 2-1 win at Great Harwood Town. Managers Tommy Foster and Dennis Haslam have signed Steve Denny (ex Clitheroe), Ross McNair and Gary Crompton (last season with Daisy Hill) and ex Rochdale sweeper Nick Irwin.
Entertain
Radcliffe Boro entertain Matlock Town in a Unibond Division One fixture tomorrow before the big derby game at Chorley on Monday afternoon.
Boro manager Kevin Glendon has re-signed the club's all time record goalscorer Ian Lunt, who left for Salford City half way through last season. Other new faces in the Boro squad are Eamonn Elliott from Ossett Town and Richard Landon from Altrincham.
Monday Fixtures
Unibond League Division One: Chorley v Radcliffe Boro (3pm)
North West Counties League Division One: Atherton Colls v Glossop North End (3pm).
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