Ex-Bolton midfielder finds new club as Colls pick up big win - Non-league latest

North West Counties League clubs are just hoping their season will continue as planned.

It's all in our latest non-league round-up below. 

COLLS SPOIL FORMER MANAGER’S RETURN

Chris Dagnall was sent off early on at the Skuna Stadium. Picture: Dave Featherstone

Atherton Collieries ensured that former manager Michael Clegg’s first return to the Skuna Stadium since leaving last year was not a winning one, as the home side triumphed 1-0 against his Ashton United outfit.

Dylan Glass’ weaving run and finish in the 34th minute was a goal worthy of winning any game and it did just that on this occasion to seal the three points for Colls.

Brad Cooke has now seen his team earn six points from their opening four games of the Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division season, and the manager was full of praise for match-winner Glass following the victory.

“I’m delighted that Dylan Glass has got the winner because that goal was special,” he said.

“He had a really good pre-season and he’s been knocking on the door coming off the bench.

“Tonight, we put him in there because we knew he’d do the defensive side of the game well.

“Dylan’s very intelligent and he brings you that side as well as the top-quality goal that we’ve seen.”

There was a tense atmosphere around the Skuna on Tuesday night, heightened by a rampant opening 10 minutes which included Ashton’s new signing Chris Dagnall being sent off for a late challenge on Colls’ Clive Smith.

More than 400 fans were at the Skuna Stadium to witness Colls’ victory on Tuesday night, with the home fans providing vocal support throughout.

Cooke will be hoping for more of the same tomorrow when Stalybridge Celtic are the visitors.

Words by Ben Olawumi

DANNS SIGNS FOR RADCLIFFE

Neil Danns was with Bury when their financial problems hit

Ex-Wanderer Neil Danns has signed for Radcliffe.

Last with Tranmere, the 37-year-old links up with the Boro ahead of their meeting with Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division leaders Warrington tomorrow.

It comes on the back of a 2-1 win over Bamber Bridge on Tuesday night.

“It’s on to Saturday now which will be a different game,” said boss Lee Fowler.

“I have learnt from the mistakes after the South Shields game.

“So obviously I have a few tired boys in there so I’ll have to freshen it up.

“I trust in the squad we brought in, let’s not get complacent, we are still nowhere near the finished article.

“Going forward we look a threat and we are starting to look a bit more solid.

“We’ll keep going, keep learning and this team will grow.”

PHOENIX BOSS IN PLEA TO PLAY ON

Bury AFC have played just one league game so far

BURY AFC boss Andy Welsh insists his side’s debut season should not be stopped in its tracks.

The phoenix club have managed just one North West Counties First Division North game so far, a dramatic win over Steeton, and are due to host AFC Darwen at the Neuven Stadium on Saturday.

But with games being called off across non-league, and to a lesser extent in the professional game, amid the rising Covid-19 infection rates, the NWCL have petitioned their clubs on what to do next.

An email sent out on Tuesday evening asked whether clubs wanted to pause action until the end of October, suspend games for clubs in ‘tier 3’ lockdowns or continue with the campaign.

AFC, who saw their game against Pilkington on Wednesday night called off, favour the latter with no formal decision having been made.

Welsh, for his part, is desperate to play on and feels there needs to be real flexibility in the scheduling of games.

“It’s been hard work,” the former Sunderland winger said.

“If they were to suspend it, my players have been in with us around 10 weeks now and I put quite a demanding schedule in place with a view to the season going ahead.

“We played in the FA Vase which was probably a couple of weeks too early from where we started but we were ready to go at the start of the season and we’ve only played one game.

“I think a team like Golcar has played four games and we’ve only played one.

“Surely they can look at it and say that the sides who’ve played games could have a couple of weeks off and others could catch games up.

“I don’t know, is that an option? Or can we reverse fixtures?

“I think we talked about reversing the Pilkington game but I’m not sure what was said.

“The players are raring to go and it would be a shame if it was to be suspended.

“What was the point of starting if we do?”

DAISY SEE GAME CALLED OFF

Daisy Hill boss Brian Hart

Daisy Hill have no game tomorrow, following the decision of opponents AFC Liverpool to suspend their next three first team fixtures.

The decision was made by the club earlier in the week, following the placing of Liverpool City Region into Covid Alert Level Tier-3.

A club statement from AFC Liverpool said: “This decision has not been made lightly, however, and despite the rights and wrongs of the Government’s decision, we should not encourage our players, staff, members and supporters to break the regulations which will soon be passed into law.

“By the same token, we cannot expect other clubs and their supporters to also break the regulations by visiting us.

“We encourage everyone to follow the new rules and not allow us and yourselves to be complicit in extending lockdowns longer than necessary.”

Daisy had been hoping to bounce back from a 5-2 defeat to Prestwich Heys as their season finally got under way at New Sirs last Saturday.

LR HEAD TO CHADDERTON

Atherton LR are set to be in action on Saturday

Atherton LR saw their Tuesday night clash with Garstang at Crilly Park called off and hope to be back in North West Counties First Division action at Chadderton tomorrow.

They will be looking to rebound from the 3-0 defeat at home to Golcar United last time out on Saturday.

Summer signing Matty Scoullar said: “I think all over the pitch we were second to everything.

“We didn’t do what we’ve done all of pre-season and need to get back to that.

“We need to put things right and get playing the way we know can play.”