IT’S been an impressive start to the season for a lot of non-league sides in East Lancashire.

Below we round-up the best of the recent action and look ahead to this weekend’s games.

BLUES NOT GETTING CARRIED AWAY

DAVID Lynch has enjoyed a near perfect start to his reign as Clitheroe manager but he is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

The Blues’ impressive 3-1 win over Mossley on Tuesday night maintained an unbeaten start to the season which saw them move to the top of the Northern Premier League North West Division.

The victory – secured thanks to goals from Kielan Adams, Danny Wilkins and Kieran Feeney – made it three wins out of four for Clitheroe.

But ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Runcorn Linnets, Lynch insists he is not giving the league standings a second thought.

“I won’t even look at that,” said the Blues’ boss, whose team had also beaten Brighouse and Prescot Cables before dropping points against Trafford last weekend.

“We won’t get carried away. It’s no more than a decent start, but the good thing for me is that we haven’t reached anywhere near our potential yet and I think once that clicks, I think we will be a very good team.”

RAMMY AND COLNE LOOK TO BUILD ON THEIR STRONG STARTS

Ramsbottom, without a midweek game, were replaced by Clitheroe at the top of the table and they will be looking to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season when they welcome bottom of the table Ossett United to the Riverside.

Chris Willcock’s new-look side have been in fine form, winning their opening three games against Widnes, Pickering and Pontefract Collieries, scoring 10 goals and conceding just one in the process.

Colne go to Widnes looking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat at Workington on Tuesday night – the Reds’ first loss of their campaign.

Nathan Rooney’s side won their opening three games against Dunston, Marine and Ossett United and are among the early season pace-setters.

They take on a Widnes side who have lost their two opening games.

VERMO TAKES POSITIVES FROM YORK REVERSE

CHORLEY boss Jamie Vermiglio says there were plenty of positives to take out of Tuesday night’s defeat at title-favourites York City and is he ready for another tough test when Gloucester City come to Victory Park tomorrow.

Having kicked off their season with a 2-1 FA Cup win over Gateshead last weekend, the Magpies were beaten 3-1 at York City in midweek – a team they face again in the third qualifying round of the cup on Tuesday.

Vermiglio knows that if Chorley are going to compete at the top end of National League North then these are the sorts of teams they need to be beating.

“They don’t come easy, when you look and hear stories of what teams are trying to do and what they are trying to put together, Gloucester are right up there,” he said.

“I’ve seen some of the signings they have made, very strong signings so they are going to be a tough team to beat. They are as strong outfit, very similar to York in terms of experience but no game is going to be easy.

“But if we want to be up there competing then we are going to have to play against the Yorks, the Gloucesters, the Southports, the teams that are coming up. We have got to get some results against them and I am confident with what we have got.”

FA VASE ACTION FOR NWCL SIDES

NORTH West Counties League teams turn their attentions to the FA Vase with places in the third qualifying round up for grabs.

Both Padiham and AFC Darwen will be looking to take their impressive league form in to the competition while Bacup Borough and Nelson will be making their first outings of the season.

Padiham are on the road and travel up to Newcastle to take on Northern League side Heaton Stannington.

Michael Morrison’s side have enjoyed an unbeaten start in NWCL Division One North and are currently top of the table.

Darwen thumped AFC Blackpool 7-3 last weekend as they kicked off their Division One North campaign in style and they get the chance to test themselves against higher league opposition when they host Premier Division side Runcorn Town in an all-NWCL affair at the WEC Anchor Ground.

Nelson saw their season opener against Atherton LR on Saturday postponed due to the weather then Monday’s clash at Daisy Hill was abandoned after 64 minutes because of a waterlogged pitch.

So Andy Harrison’s side will be hoping it is third time lucky when they host Ashington.

Covid and the weather have prevented Bacup Borough from playing so they will be hoping for no mishaps when they host NWCL Division One South side, Stockport Town.