AS the amateur clubs reach the business end of the summer season, Barrow Island and Askam are pushing for promotion, while Millom and Roose Pioneers strive to escape the wooden spoon.

But most sympathy goes to Hindpool Pioneers, who will be more than happy just to get a game after a lengthy absence from North West Men's League action.

BARROW ISLAND v SEATON RANGERS

(Rating Lane, 2.30pm)

COACH Joe Elliott knows everything is still to play for as his Barrow Island side push for a top-two finish and a home tie in the Cumbria League play-off semi-finals.

With closest rivals Walney having stepped up their challenge with a 17-16 midweek win over Ulverston, Elliott said: “We still have a lot of work to do and we won’t be taking any game for granted. On their day anybody in this league can beat anybody else.”

Elliott expects to field a strong side for the visit of Seaton Rangers, although he could be without father-to-be Matt Parkinson.

ROOSE PIONEERS v MARYPORT

(Redwaters, 2.30pm)

WITH a run of three home games which start with the visit of Maryport tomorrow, Pioneers coach Steve Neale is hoping his side can finish a disappointing Cumbria League programme with an end-of-season flourish.

“We struggled at the start, but we have been improving steadily and if we could have turned some of the narrow defeats into wins – or, had the luck of the bounce gone our way – we could have been in a mid-table position,” Neale said.

Instead, Pioneers are rooted at the foot of the table and are keen to turn some of those near-misses around, starting with a victory over Maryport.

“We did well for long spells when we played up there but we fell away towards the end.” said Neale, who is choosing from a 20-man squad that will include the return of Shaun Mason, who has recovered from a broken hand.

MILLOM v ELLAND

(Devonshire Road, 2.30pm)

MILLOM'S season of struggle could take a turn for the better when they take on Elland in a battle of the bottom two in National Conference League Division One.

With just two wins to their credit and a quick return to Division Two a near-certainty, the Woollybacks have a good chance to end their losing run as tomorrow’s visitors from Halifax are the only team below them and have won just once, along with conceding a whopping 1,011 points in 19 games.

DUDLEY HILL v ASKAM

WITH Hunslet Parkside having wrapped up the National Conference Division Two title, Askam can now set their sights on the runners-up spot and a couple of home ties in their final promotion push.

Coach Mike Wilson said: “We have two home and two away games and three victories would confirm us as runners-up, so we will travel to Bradford with confidence, although they are also pushing for a play-off place.”

Askam will be without Barry Pugh, who is unavailable, and Jamie and Tom Butler. However, Dan Sayle makes his return to the side.

HINDPOOL TIGERS v CHORLEY PANTHERS

(Brisbane Park, 2.30pm)

THE Tigers, without a game for more than two months, and having played second fiddle to the club’s A-team, who reached a Barrow League cup final, will be hoping to get back into action tomorrow.

They have played fewer games than any other team in the North West Men's League Division One.

Tomorrow’s visitors Chorley have had a mixed season and lie two places below Hindpool, who have a 50 per cent record of five wins from their 10 games.