No pals’ act for Chorley manager in Rossendale United clash (From Chorley Citizen)

No pals’ act for Chorley manager in Rossendale United clash

12:10pm Tuesday 15th December 2009 in

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Steve Waywell will put his friendship with Rossendale United manager John Hughes on hold for 90 minutes on Saturday when Chorley go for their third successive UniBond win ­ a feat the club last achieved almost seven years ago.

The pair played together for Chorley and Rossendale and were in the Magpies’ Lancashire FA Trophy side who lost 3-2 to Morecambe in an extra-time thriller at Deepdale in 1986.

Waywell’s boys responded to his call for nine points from three pre-Christmas games and with back-to-back wins over Harrogate Railway Athletic and Ossett Albion under their belts they are eager for that third elusive three-pointer.

Not since the spring of 2003 have Chorley won three league games in a row, but the Magpies are well aware of the challenge facing them as Rossendale are sure to put up a fight, as they did before going out of the FA Trophy in Chorley’s last visit in October.

Hughes, who had a spell as manager at Victory Park five years ago, has had a tough time at Dark Lane, but his Stags team stand in the way of Waywell’s plans.

Steve has hoisted the Magpies to 12th in the UniBond First Division North, with 27 points from 21 games at the halfway stage.

Mark Molyneux’s side beat Alfreton, Ossett Town, North Ferriby and Eastwood in successive matches in March and April 2003 on their way to a place in the play-off final, losing away to Radcliffe Borough.

Manager Waywell said he hoped to sign Prescot Cables midfielder Aiden Kirkbride, a 19-year-old former Liverpool and Wigan Athetic junior, in time for the game ­ and maybe bring in a young but experienced striker who plays on the right.

“If we get him it will be a massive coup for the club,” he said.

“I told the lads I wanted nine points from the three matches, so they have to do the business at Rossendale.

“We’ve turned things around but we’ve got to keep at it, and cut down on mistakes.

“The boys who came in from Southport have done well. It¹s a two-day arrangement which has done us a favour.

“Youth is a great thing and for me the way forward. The kids are playing for the right reasons and want to do well.”