Boss Jones wants Atherton LR momentum into play-offs

Atherton LR boss David Jones, is targeting back-to-back away wins inside three days, starting at Ashton Athletic tomorrow.

Second-placed LR have already secured a place in the NWCFL First Division North play-offs, but Jones wants to go into those games with momentum.

Jones said: “Two games to go so it is six points to play for as far as we’re concerned.

“The two games that are left are spread over three days so we’ll have to be mindful of how we use the squad, as we don’t have a massive squad as it is, so we’ll be utilising every single player as best as we can, to make sure they’re physically kept right for the play-offs.

“We’ve just got to manage correctly but we have six points to play for and we’ll be fighting for every single point.

“We want to finish on the highest points tally as we possibly can, so that’s the message that’s being put across to the players.

“It’s business as usual as far as we’re concerned this weekend. You want to keep that momentum going that we’ve built over the last few months for us to take into the play-offs.”

Jones’ side visit Bacup Borough on Monday night, but before that comes a trip to another mid-table outfit in the shape of Ashton Athletic.

Jones added: “We have had two different games against them. When we played them in the cup earlier in the season, I thought we were really good on the night and had a convincing win.

“When we played them in January, we fell a little bit short after a great win against South Liverpool on the Saturday, but on the Tuesday night we fell short and they were impressive on the night.

“They’ve got some dangerous players, Thomas Romano who plays up top is a dangerous lad, getting player of the month from the league, so it shows how well he’s been doing.

“They’ve been in good form themselves since they played us, they’ve done well.

“I have got a lot of time and respect for Jay (Foulds), I’ve known him for a long time, he’s managed for a long time so lots of respect for Jay and lots of respect for Ashton Athletic who I think are well aware of how difficult a game it will be but they’ll be looking to finish their season on a high.”