RADCLIFFE Boro entertain Imre Varadi's Matlock Town tomorrow in the FA Umbro Trophy first round proper.

This is the first time in the club's history that the Stainton Road outfit has progressed so far in the top non-league competition and Kevin Glendon and his side have every right to feel confident of progressing even further against the Premier Division strugglers.

Matlock had a disastrous start to the season before the much-travelled Varadi was appointed player-manager and, with moving clear of the relegation zone his top priority, Boro could catch the visitors off guard in a cup encounter.

Glendon will be without hamstring victims Dave Channon and Loz Greenhalgh, plus the suspended Simon Whittle and Jason Ashley, who missed the midweek 1-1 extra time draw at Accrington Stanley with food poisoning is expected to return. Last weekend's 2-1 home win over Whitley Bay saw ATHERTON LR move up into seventh place in the UniBond Division One table and a home win tomorrow against third placed Lincoln United would put Dave Morris's side right in the promotion hunt.

The Crilly Park boss is hopeful that star playmaker and leading goalscorer Joey Dunn will be fit to return after the former Warrington Town striker missed Tuesday's home 2-1 defeat by Chorley.

Jimmy Hulton's DAISY HILL scored a memorable Lancashire ATS Trophy 2-1 away win over first division Blackpool Rovers on Tuesday and tomorrow the Seasiders' second division neighbours, Mechanics, are the visitors to New Sirs.

Two stars of recent games, defender Gary Crosby (work commitments) and leading goalscorer Danny Mills (injured) both missed the big cup tie but will be available for tomorrow's game. Hulton will face the dilemma of whether to change a winning side! RAMSBOTTOM UNITED need to start amassing vital league points if manager Ken Bridge's target of a top half finish is to be achievable. Tomorrow Stantondale are the visitor to the Riverside Ground and will provide a stern test for a United side that has shown up and down form in the debut season in the NWCL. Bridge brings back Mark Keegan into the staring line up after suspension and toys with a recall for Maurice Thompson but Paul Stanley definitely misses the game with a hamstring problem.

ATHERTON COLLIERIES travel to Nelson looking to clinch a place in the last eight of the NWCL League Challenge Cup. Former Altrincham midfielder Paul Cox and full back Chris O'Brien return after missing last weekend's 1-0 victory at Haslingden with flu. Ian Walsh also returns after work commitments sidelined him last weekend.

FA Umbro Trophy - lst Round Proper: Radcliffe Boro v Matlock Town.

UniBond Division 1: Atherton LR v LIncoln United; Leigh RMI v Netherfield.

NWCL Division 2: Daisy Hill v Blackpool Mechanics; Ramsbottom Utd v Stantondale.

League Challenge Cup - 3rd round: Nelson v Atherton Collieries.

Manchester League (KO 2pm): Premier Division: Mitchell Shackleton v Atherton Town; Wythenshawe Town v Little Hulton Utd.

Division 1: Coldhurst Utd v Pennington

West Lancs League. Richardson Cup - 2nd round (kos 1.45pm): Blackrod Town v Charnock Richard; Vernon Carus v Eagley.

Division 2 (kos 2.15pm): Turton v Fenniscowles.

Division 2: Tempest Utd v Carnforth Rangers.

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