Daisy Hill travel to face Euxton Villa in a North West Counties League First Division North clash tomorrow, with the winners assured of moving clear into second place.

Both sides are tied in joint-second on 19 points, and Daisy go into the game in buoyant mood after they booked a place in the second round of the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy with a fine 3-1 win at Clitheroe on Tuesday night.

Against a side from two leagues above, Daisy survived the loss of goalkeeper Morgan Newns through a first-half injury, and turned in a fine display to bounce back from the disappointment of their home league defeat to Ilkley Town last Saturday.

Two goals from captain Connor Hughes put Daisy in the driving seat, and although Clitheroe pulled a goal from the penalty spot, victory was wrapped up by a Lee Grimshaw goal late in the game.

Daisy manager Leighton Mills was delighted with the way in which his team bounced back from Saturday’s loss, and believes it has set his side up well for the big league clash tomorrow.

“I knew we had good character in the squad, we had bounced back before from defeats, and we showed it again on Tuesday,” said Mills.

“The lads had been down since Saturday, so it was key we went into the game and got Saturday out of our system as quickly as we could, and that’s what we did.

“Clitheroe had a mix of under-23 and first-team players, and they were a good side, probably one of the best teams we have played this season, so it was a good test.

“It means we can go to Euxton Villa on Saturday with a positive mindset, and not losing two on the bounce. That’s important for any team going into a big game.

“We trained on Thursday night and worked on a few things, and we know where we can get at them, but obviously we know they can be dangerous, with where they are in the league.

“It should make for a good game, and we are all looking forward to it.

“We have played a game more and are level on points with them, so if they go and beat us that puts them potentially six points ahead of us.

“They are a good team, they beat Ilkley a couple of weeks ago, who we know are a good side.

“We have never been there before, and hopefully we can get the three points on the board and get back to winning ways in the league, which is obviously our priority.”

On Tuesday evening at Clitheroe, Daisy were on the front foot from the start, and although the hosts had an early chance when Danny Wilkins set up Ryan Bolton, who shot over from 20 yards, it was Daisy who took the lead with their first clear chance of the game on 13 minutes.

A neat build-up led to the ball being played into Connor Hughes, who took a touch and fired in a low shot on the turn that ended up in the back of the net off the post.

Clitheroe came close on the half-hour mark when a long ball from Lewis Brown found Bolton and the home striker cut inside on to his left foot and fired just wide.

Six minutes from half time, Daisy suffered a setback when Clitheroe’s Malick Diakte collided with Daisy keeper Newns when chasing a Bolton through ball.

After a delay for treatment, Newns could not continue and was taken to hospital suffering from concussion and needing stitches in a gash above his eye.

Centre-half Sam Olawumi had to take over in goal, and Daisy saw the first half out safely to preserve their lead at half time.

Although a tough second half seemed in prospect for Daisy, six minutes after the restart they doubled their lead, and once again skipper Hughes was on target, firing home from 20 yards for his second goal of the night and his fifth in four games.

However, almost straight from the restart Clitheroe hit back with a goal from the penalty spot, Danny Wilkins converting after Jake Parker had been penalised for a foul.

With 20 minutes remaining, Clitheroe were reduced to 10 men when Diakte was shown a second yellow card, and with the one-man advantage Daisy killed the pace of the game and played possession football before sealing victory and a place in the next round with a third goal six minutes from time.

Grimshaw picked a perfect moment to score his first goal since the opening day of the season, with a powerful shot that Clitheroe keeper George Bristol got a hand to, but could not stop from nestling into the corner of the net.