Brighouse head to coast

BRIGHOUSE TOWN prepare for two games in three days with the pressure greatly eased by their spirited 1-0 home win over Mossley on Monday and last Thursday's 4-3 success at Ossett Town.

Although Town lost 2-0 at home to Glossop on Saturday, successive defeats for bottom club Goole means that team is almost certain to be the one relegated from Evo-Stik Division One North this season.

Vill Powell’s side travel to Scarborough to face the former Football League club tomorrow. They will be making a first visit to the Seadogs’ new stadium and playing on a 4G pitch.

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Scarborough are guaranteed a play-off place but now look unlikely to head off league leaders South Shields.

Town will be without goalkeeper Chandler Hallwood for that game and also Monday’s re-arranged home match against Clitheroe (7.45) as he is away.

Powell may recall promising teenager George Clarke or he could pull back dual registration keeper Christopher Butt from Staveley MW.

Monday’s game, sponsored by MAC Financial Services and with the ball provided by the Cock Of The North, Hipperholme, is against a Clitheroe side whose play-off hopes nosedived with a 2-1 defeat at Bamber Bridge on Tuesday.

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There will be no let-up for Town’s players in spite of the relief over their healthier position.

Powell said they were now playing for a place in next season’s squad and he also wanted his next-to-bottom side to finish higher up the table. Immediate targets to pass are Radcliffe Borough and Skelmersdale United.

Bottom club Goole, who lost 3-1 last Saturday at home to Scarborough and by the same score to South Shields on Tuesday, are now 10 points behind Town with four games left. Town have a game in hand plus a far superior goal difference. Powell said: “The pressure is on Goole now and it gives us a little breathing space. Although securing our place in this division won’t by any means amount to a successful season, I do need to put things into perspective in terms of the challenges that we have faced.

“We have used 49 different players and only 12 have been with us from day one. Of those 12, only four have played 70 per cent or more games and only six have played 50 per cent.

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“We have not been able to field the same 11 for more than two games in a row due to injury, suspension and availability.

“When you take that into account it does shed light on the reasons why my expectations have shifted.

“Although there is still a lot of work to be done, there are a lot of positives to take from results and the foundations that are being laid.

“With five games left every ounce of support counts.”

Town have spaces on the team coach to Scarborough which leaves the club at 10.30am. To book (£10) ring 07769 860694.

Season ticket holders of professional clubs can get it for £5 on Monday (£4 for senior citizens) on production of club passes.