BRIAN Dawson does not intend to be making any more cameo comebacks for Holker Old Boys after putting in a 20-minute appearance during last Saturday's 6-1 defeat at City of Liverpool.

A player shortage saw the manager name himself among the substitutes and thrust himself into the fray with the Old Boys trying to claw back a 3-1 lead in the closing stages at the Delta Taxis Stadium.

But the North West Counties Division One leaders proved to have too much for the visitors to cope with thanks to a flurry of goals late on and, while Dawson felt the final score was not truly reflective of their efforts, he does not plan on picking himself when Stockport Town visit tomorrow.

“I came on and had about 20 minutes at the end, but to be honest it kind of coincided with when they scored all of the goals!” said Dawson.

“On the face of it, it probably looks like a bit of a hiding, but the game didn't work like that and I think the changes made the difference. It's fair to say I won't be going on the bench again!

“I keep myself in good shape, so I felt fit enough to be on the pitch. It's just the tempo of the game – it's a young man's game. It coincided with a change in formation as well where we went two up front and they were able to pick us off a bit.

“To be fair to them, they did and they're a good side – they're top of the league. To go there with so many players missing, it was always going to be a tough day for us, but we managed to have a bit of respect in the first hour.

“It was just the last half-hour that was a bit disastrous to be honest, but you live and learn. It's a bit of naivety. I think you always want to go and see if you can get something out of the game, but it just came back to bite us a little bit.”

Having travelled with no fewer than nine players unavailable, Holker found themselves two goals down after a quarter-of-an-hour.

However, Sam Lightfoot pulled one back for the visitors and they then had a further chance to equalise before the break, only for City of Liverpool to dash any hopes of a comeback in the second half.

Attention now turns to the clash with Stockport at Rakesmoor Lane tomorrow and Dawson expects to see his side quickly rebound from the previous week's drubbing.

“It was a funny game because we had so many changes and I think we had nine players who would have been in the first-team squad unavailable, so we went down with a scratch side and we knew what we were up against,” said Dawson, who is waiting on the fitness of Phil Coombe for tomorrow.

“We've got Dave Swarbrick back from suspension and there are three or four lads who were just away for the weekend who we'll have back like Jamie Patterson, Jamie Mellen and the like.

“We'll be in good shape, I think, for this weekend, so I would definitely expect them to get something out of the game.”

The day's West Lancashire League Premier Division action sees Vickerstown face a tough test on home turf as they host third-placed Fulwood Amateurs, while Crooklands Casuals host the side just below them, Slyne With Hest.

Askam United will be eyeing the chance to keep pace with the top four in Division One when they welcome Burscough Richmond to Duddon Road, while top plays bottom when GSK Ulverston Rangers travel to leaders Poulton. Dalton United are also away to Hurst Green.

Elsewhere, there is a first-versus-second clash in the Furness Premier League Division One, as leaders Hawcoat Park A host unbeaten Coniston.

Hawcoat hold a three-point lead going into tomorrow's game, but Coniston have four games in hand on the table-toppers and have won seven of their eight matches so far, with one draw.

At the other end of the table, Barrow Celtic reserves go looking for their first league win of the season when they travel to Ormsgill North End.