ATHERTON LR manager Adam Jones believes his side must beat local rivals Daisy Hill if they are to salvage their North West Counties First Division season.

The Crilly Park men sit third bottom after a run of five consecutive defeats, but can draw level on points with tomorrow’s 13th-placed opponents with a home win.

And for Jones, there’s no better place to start than with a victory over the men from Westhoughton.

“It is massive – if we have any ambitions of getting ourselves up the table we have to be winning these types of games,” said Jones, who manages alongside his brother Craig.

“It’s going to be tough, it’s a local derby so it’s got that bit of extra spice, and Daisy Hill are a club we know well.

“The postponements have obviously made it tough, we have one game and then we have got a month in between.

“We are trying our best, we’ve had a few friendlies but it’s not the same.

“At the moment, the chances of it going ahead are 50/50 – we were quite disappointed last week’s game didn’t go ahead.

“With the congested nature of the league, a couple of wins and we’re right in the mix, so it’s not a lost cause by any means.”

New signing Adam Owens may make his bow for Atherton LR, after Matty German made a ‘deadline day’ move to Hanley Town, while John Green should return.

Jones hopes to exact revenge for September’s 2-1 Men United Cup defeat over another fraternal duo, with Craig and Marc Thomas in charge at Daisy Hill.

“We have quite a good relationship with their management team, with them being a brother-brother partnership just like us,” explained Jones. “We respect what they are doing – and I think it’s a mutual respect, but obviously friendship goes out the window for the 90 minutes.

“It’s a chance for others to come in, other people have got opportunities and chances now.”

Elsewhere, Atherton Collieries take on mid-table Nelson at Alder House tonight (7.45pm), with Colls looking to make it three wins in a week in the Premier Division.

Colls drew level with second-placed Colne after winning 5-2 at Bootle in midweek, following up Saturday’s 3-1 win against Cammell Laird 1907.