Last updated at 15:55, Friday, 15 February 2013

GSK Ulverston Rangers secretary Phil Grant probably breathed a huge sigh of relief after seeing his side earn a 1-0 derby win against Barrow Wanderers last week.

CHEER LEADER GSK Ulverston Rangers player Mike Webster celebrates with his team-mates after hitting the winner against Barrow Wanderers last week ref: 50044347B007

Their victory followed a 2-1 win over Todmorden and Grant will be hoping his side keep the momentum going at Canal Foot when Rangers entertain Ladybridge tomorrow.

Victory could give them some West Lancs Division Two breathing space in mid-table.

Mike Webster sealed the win with a first-half strike, with Grant feeling Rangers had two good scoring chances in the first 10 minutes.

Wanderers made it a bit tricky for Rangers in the second half but keeper Jarek Bitner didn’t have any saves of note to make.

“It was a strange game. It wasn’t really exciting, it was probably a typical local derby,” said Grant, who was happy to see his side pick up the three points.

“I was glad when the whistle was blown because when we are winning 1-0 all you need is one slip, one mistake, and they’ve equalised,” added Grant.

Before the setback Wanderers had been on a respectable run, notching up a hat-trick of league wins.

The Rangers secretary is anticipating a tasty encounter against Ladybridge who hammered Bolton County 5-2 two weeks ago, but missed out on any action last week.

“We’ve had two wins on the trot but we’re not going to get carried away because football can turn around and smack you in the face,” said Grant.

Players are returning to the Rangers squad and hopefully that will bode well for the side in the run-in.

“I am looking at hopefully getting another three wins between now and the end of the season so that we don’t finish in the bottom two and we don’t have to apply for re-election.” he added.

Vickerstown will want to put last week’s 4-0 defeat at Burnley United behind them when they entertain Tempest United in the Premier Division at Park Vale.

Dave Round hopes to have a couple of players back to bolster his squad for the Tempest visit.

“We need to start getting some points really, we don’t want to get dragged into that relegation area” he said. “We would rather get safe, and once we are, we can enjoy the season.”

Crooklands Casuals missed out last week after their game at Thornton Cleveleys fell foul of the weather.

They face Blackpool Wren Rovers, who have won their last four league games, at Longlands Park where Cassies, undefeated in three, will be aiming to end the visitors’ run.

The three local sides in Division One are on their travels tomorrow with Furness Rovers, who enjoyed an emphatic 7-0 win over cellar dwellers Stonecough last week, without a fixture.

Hawcoat Park travel to third-placed Garstang hoping to avoid another defeat after losing 3-0 at home to Haslingden St Mary’s last week.

Dalton United will aim to inflict more pain on Stoneclough after they were hammered by Rovers. Stoneclough have picked up just two points from the past 10 games,

Millom, who sit one place above Stoneclough, face the tough prospect of becoming the first team to inflict a league defeat on leaders Norcross and Warbreck this season. They have won 15 games on the bounce.

Barrow Wanderers travel to high-flying Bolton County for a round two clash in the Challenge Cup.

Holker Old Boys were condemned to their sixth successive defeat last week, losing 2-0 at home to Eccleshall in the North West Counties Division One. They travel to Atherton LR and will be hoping to put some much-needed points in the bag.

First published at 15:53, Friday, 15 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk