RADCLIFFE BORO entertain one of the top names in non-League soccer tomorrow with Unibond Premier Division Marine the visitors to Stainton Park.
Kevin Glendon's side has begun to hit top gear and on Tuesday banged three goals past Farsley Celtic for no reply. The game was watched by Marine manager Roly Howerd on a "spying " mission and he was certainly given lots to ponder - and worry about!
For Boro goalkeeper, Andy Johnstone, it's a chance to show the visitors what they missed out on. He spent a season on Marine books, played seven 1st team games when regular choice Kevin O'Brien got injured, during which he kept three clean sheets and the gaffer picked up the Manager of the Month award, only to be dropped when O'Brien regained fitness!
He had spells at Southport and Barrow before joining Boro and at 28 is currently rated as one of the top keepers in the Unibond League. With Frankie Bunn, Joe Connor and Ian Lunt currently firing on all cylinders up front, and David Bean knowing just what a class act he is at the back, Boro have every reason to feel confident.
ATHERTON LR's battled weary players and supporters trooped back across the Pennines last night happy and triumphant after beating Liversedge at the fourth time of asking in the FA Cup Preliminary round.
Four hundred and fifty minutes of football between the two clubs eventually saw LR come out on top by 3-1 to earn a home tie tomorrow against Ilkeston Town.
Yet again the Liversedge encounter went to extra time. Paul Murphy put the Yorkshiremen in front in the first half and it took a last gasp last minute equaliser from Lee Cryer to save LR. Mark Stewart and Cryer again finished it off in the first period of extra time.
Central defender Neil Wright, son of former RMI manager Ken, picked up an injury and is rated highly doubtful for tomorrow.
On a much brighter note Kenny Quigg and Gavin McDonald will be available after being sidelined through work commitments.
LEIGH RMI take on Alfreton Town at Hilton Park, a side that won promotion from the Unibond First Division last season.
"It will be an ideal opportunity to see how far we have come," said Manager Steve Waywell, whose side is now unbeaten in five games.
"They were a good side when they went up and they have strengthened since, but they crashed 4-0 at Leek in mid week so we will have to be ready for any backlash."
Waywell will probably stick with the same 11 that started in the 1-0 win over Warrington Town on Tuesday and will make a late decision on substitutes.
Squad: Felgate, Weston, Wallace, Hill, Schofield, Booth, Wheeler, Ridings, Shaw, Evans, McKenna, Bermingham, Fahey, Leishman, C Walmesley, S Walmesley.
Leigh hold their AGM in the Hilton Park lounge on Monday at 7.30pm.
ATHERTON COLLS travel to Billingham Synthonia of the Northern League Division 1 with changes to the strike force. Former Winsford and Maine Road player, Peter Oldbury, the "other party" in the recent court case involving Manchester United star Nicky Butt, has been released by the club.
Joint managers Steve Walton and Ian Lamb will make Alan Shawcross, leading goalscorer two seasons ago, forward from his support role to form an exciting-looking partnership with Graham Dodd up front.
Former Northwich Vics midfielder Rob Hilton looks to have fully recovered from his stomach problems and his pairing in midfield with recent signing Tony Pemberton could give the Colls that vital edge in the middle of the park. Central defender Steve Dixon faces a late test on his troublesome groin injury.
Jimmy Hulton's DAISY HILL travel to Middlewich Athletic for a NWCL Division 2 clash with the main fitness worry being over midfielder Gary Cunliffe. He picked up an injury in a Man of the Match award-winning display on Tuesday in the 2-1 defeat at Blackpool Mechanics. Youngster Eric Rostron has been in superb form for Daisy but only late defensive errors have marred an otherwise good start to the season.
FA Cup lst qualifying round - ATHERTON LR v Ilkeston Town, LEIGH RMI v Alfreton Town, RADCLIFFE Boro v Marine, Billington Synthonia v ATHERTON COLLS. NWCL Division 2 - Middlewich Athletic v DAISY HILL. Manchester League Premier Division: ATHERTON TOWN
LITTLE HULTON UTD. SGL Seat Cars West Lancs League - Division 1: BLACKROD TOWN v Wyre Villa, EAGLEY v Poulton Town, Vickers SC v TURTON, Lancs Constab v TEMPEST UTD. Manchester League (k.2.30pm) LITTLE HULTON v Abbey Hey, Wythenshawe Ams v ATHERTON TOWN.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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