Daisy Hill will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of a home defeat against South Liverpool last weekend, when they host Atherton LR in a derby clash at the Plumb Factory Stadium on Easter Monday (3pm).
LR make the short trip looking to pick up points that will secure a place in the play-off places in the North West Counties League First Division North, but Daisy manager Lee Hill insists the game is just as important for his side in a busy end to the season.
“We are pretty much safe from relegation now, but we want to finish on a high,” said Hill.
“There’s still a lot to play for, and it’s going to be an interesting few weeks.
“I have reflected on the South Liverpool game last weekend, and it was a game where the wind picked up quite a bit in the second half and with the wind advantage, they used it better than we did.
“So I am not overly concerned about the performance, as it was difficult for us defending in those conditions.
“But we are focused now on bouncing back and it’s always a good and well-contested game between us and LR.
“I think sometimes league form goes out of the window in these meetings, and we got a good result against them on Boxing Day.
“We know they are a good side with good players who are challenging near the top of the table, and it’s going to be a tough game for us.
“It’s the start of a busy few weeks for us, with a local derby, fixtures in the Bolton Hospital Cup and Atherton Charity Cup, and then a final league game of the season against Garstang, which might be a deciding game for the relegation places.
“We lost in the Hospital Cup final a couple of years ago to Tempest United, which was a disappointing outcome for us, and we want to do well in that this year, starting with our first-round game against Tempest on Thursday next week.
“There is still loads to play for, which makes for an interesting and exciting time over the next few weeks.”
n Dates have now been set for all the first-round ties in this year's Bolton Hospital Cup, beginning next week.
Round One ties: April 3 - Atherton Town v Old Bolts (6.15pm); April 4 - Walshaw v Turton (7.25pm), Daisy Hill v Tempest United (7.45pm); April 8 - Pennington v North Walkden (6.30pm), Atherton LR v Stoneclough (8pm); April 9 - Hindsford v Tottington United (6.30pm), Little Lever v Eagley (6.30pm); April 10 - CMB v Horwich RMI (6.30pm).
The final will take place on Friday, May 17, at Radcliffe FC’s Neuven Stadium.
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