JOHN BULLEN'S local soccer scene ATHERTON LR have never progressed beyond the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup which certainly adds to the glamour of tomorrow's home meeting with Curzon Ashton. Opponents Curzon are in disarray, despite a storming start to the season and the departure a month ago of chairman Simon kay was followed last weekend by the resignation of manager Tommy McLean.

Last Saturday LR won the away league foretaster courtesy of a Lee Cryer strike and that first defeat of the season for Curzon was followed on Tuesday by a dismal showing in the 3-1 defeat at Radcliffe Boro.

On the same evening LR were strolling to a comfortable 2-0 home win over Gretna, extending the Crilly Park club's unbeaten run to eight games.

The reward for tomorrow's victors is a home Third Qualifier against struggling Bamber Bridge or Midland Football Alliance side Stapenhill.

LR manager Dave Morris and Peter Lee are far too wily and been around too long to take any omens seriously. Midfielder Kenny Quigg is still away on holiday but Mattie Brookes has proved a more than capable deputy. Centre back Dave Channon is still suspended.

Having gone out of the FA Cup in a 2-0 home defeat by Marine, RADCLIFFE BOROhave had a Unibond Division One fixture re-arranged for tomorrow. The visitors to Stainton Park will be a Worksop Town side that has lost only once in the league this season and currently sits comfortably in the top six.

Boro look to be on a storming run at the moment and Tuesday's 3-1 home win over Curzon Ashton extended the winning sequence to six games.

Manager Kevin Glendon has injury worries over striker Peter McRae and midfielder Jon Senior, to add to the definite absence of Andy Brown, Danny Donachie and David Bean. Replacements Chris Gardner, Neil Moss and Mike Ferrelly did superbly in midweek and there is the added bonus that central defender Ian Phllips could be back after a bout of flu. IN the NWCL first division Jimmy Hulton takes his DAISY HILL side to Oldham Town for the Division Two fixture tomorrow on the crest of a wave after Wednesday's away win at Colne. Hulton, currently fielding one of the youngest sides in the League largely due to an incredible crop of injuries, could have striker Roy Litherland back for a game in which a win will see his side move comfortably into the top half of the table.

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