ATHERTON LR and Daisy Hill slipped to defeat as their play-off hopes in the North West Counties League First Division took a hit.

LR dropped to eighth place in the table following a 2-1 defeat at Cheadle Town, who leapfrogged Ross McNair's side into sixth spot – the final promotion play-off place.

And Daisy slipped to seventh place following their fifth consecutive league defeat as they went down by a single goal to mid-table Northwich Flixton Villa.

Brian Hatton scored a consolation goal for LR in a tight contest at Cheadle.

But with McNair's outfit just two points adrift of their play-off rivals and with a game in hand over the rivals, they still have everything left to play for in the remaining nine games of their season.

Next up for them is another tough encounter at home to third-placed Barnton on Saturday.

Daisy also remain in a promising position, just below Cheadle on goal difference and with two games in hand, but with their form tailing off dramatically they will have to arrest their recent slump to put themselves back in the mix.

Craig Thomas' side face a difficult challenge to bounce back in their next game, which is at home to title favourites Atherton Collieries on Friday night, kick off 7.45pm.

Colls are in second place, just a point behind leaders Cammel Laird 1907 but with a far superior goal difference and three games in hand.

They will of course be happy to remain in the top two and clinch automatic promotion to the Premier Division, but Michael Clegg's side will be disappointed if they do not finish the season as champions.

The Collieries gave those hopes a boost with a 3-1 win at Litherland REMYCA, with Mark Ayres and Mark Truffas scoring before half-time and Gareth Peet adding a third goal late on.

Clegg said: "It was a good performance. There were a few lads missing this week but to get the win was important.

"We're in good shape going into the run-in and its important that we maintain our level of performance to achieve our goals."

Colls are heading to the league's top tier in a flurry of goals after taking their tally to 103 at the weekend, boosting their goal difference to an impressive + 86.

Their next target is to secure the three wins they need in make promotion a certainty.