THE pressure created for ATHERTON LR by an FA Cup preliminary round tie with Liversedge that required three replays is almost unrelenting.

Virtually straight from the 3-1 extra time away win, it was Saturday's first qualifying round 1-0 home victory over Ilkeston Town. Now just three days later it's Workington at home in Division One.

With the cup taking preference LR now have a backlog of league games and having lost the first three sit rock bottom of the current table.

Fortunately for manager Dave Morris the local cricket season is now over and Mark Stewart returns to his football involvement full time. Defender Elliott Simm has also returned from holiday but central defender Dave Channon has started a three-match suspension.

RADCLIFFE BORO must bounce straight back from a 2-0 home defeat by Marine in the cup on Saturday and pick up the league form that earned three straight wins for the visit to Warrington Town tonight.

Striker Peter McRae, yet to kick a ball in anger this campaign after picking up a bad ankle injury in a pre-season game, is almost ready to return, giving manager Kevin Glendon several attacking options with Joe Connor, Frankie Bunn and Ian Lunt. Defenders John Ryan and Jason Ashley return after being sidelined at the weekend. ATHERTON COLLS face a real tough Division One week with a trip to much-fancied Nantwich Town tonight and, another pre-season hot title favourite Burscough, on Saturday.

Colls hit top form on occasions on Saturday despite going 1-0 away in the FA Cup at Billingham Synthonia.

Joint manager Steve Walton says: "We had long spells on Saturday when they just couldn't get the ball off us but we failed to get that vital breakthrough.

"It's going to change for us I'm sure. We are playing well, creating chances and looking particularly dangerous from set pieces. We can't really ask for more from the lads except to rule out those momentary lapses of concentration that have been costing us."

Steve Coffey missed the Saturday game but returns tonight.

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