NO one will be happier to hear the full-time whistle tomorrow afternoon than Atherton LR joint-manager, Craig Jones.

It has been a miserable year at Crilly Park and this week provided no solace, as they were defeated 6-1 at Litherland on Wednesday, their ninth straight loss.

Only Whitchurch Alport sit below Rovers in the Division One table and Jones, who runs the team alongside brother Adam, admits: "I can't wait for five o'clock on Saturday. It's been a tough old season and it's been hard for us.

"We've got a lot of young lads who want to play good football and pass the thing but we've had constant battles with our surface, which I believe has contributed to a lot of injuries, they've been mainly ankle problems. We have a group that works hard and tries to compete. Are they good enough to do it at this level? That is questionable, if I'm honest.

"We are perhaps three or four players short of being a mid-table team, or better, but as harsh as it sounds the club is where it belongs to be. We've been frustrated all season, our injury list has been ridiculous – at one stage we had 14 injured so myself and Adam were both on the team sheet so we could make the fixture. And when we did have some good results the weather turned and we lost all out momentum.

"So there are plenty of factors but we won't make excuses. All in all, we've just not been good enough."

Their resolve will be tested to the full in tomorrow's final fixture, when Atherton entertain table-topping Irlam, who are already promoted but need a win to pip Hanley Town to the Division One title.

Finances remain tight at Atherton who can only look on at the likes of Irlam and Hanley and Jones has been tearing his hair out at seeing talented players leave the club for moderate semi-professional pay elsewhere.

"We have put a lot of work in but we can't even compete when lads go elsewhere to play for a tenner a week, and we've struggled to replace them with players of the same quality," he added. "myself and Adam have learned a lot about ourselves. I think many people would have walked away but we want to make things happen at this club.

"There are some really dedicated fans who have been behind us all season, I can't tell you how good they are. They can see what we are trying to implement and they are the reason we're still doing what we do.

"We will turn out in front of them on Saturday and hope to put on a respectable performance to end the season."

Elsewhere in the First Division Daisy Hill's remaining two fixtures pit them against seventh-placed Cheadle Town and Bacup Borough, who sit just above Cheadle on goal difference.

Both opponents have enjoyed moderate success in the Division One season but both will both fall short of the top-two places this term.

Daisy's last outing saw them fall to a 2-0 defeat at Stockport Town, with both goals coming in the first half. The Daisies are destined for a mid-table finish, a decent return after a hellish start to their league campaign.

The end of the top-flight season is also nigh, and Premier Division side Atherton Collieries will hope to come through their final four games unscathed, as they're also preparing for the Men United Cup final. They'll face Colne at Fleetwood Town's Highbury ground on May 10.

Colls were to travel to Alsager last night (Thursday) before entertaining Congleton Town tomorrow (Saturday).