CLITHEROE manager Lee Sculpher isn't expecting any favours from Ramsbottom counterpart Vince Overson tonight.

Player-manager Sculpher knows all the North West Counties Division One teams have been doing their utmost to steer them away from the title. And he doesn't expect the Rams to be any different when they go head to head at the Riverside tonight.

Clitheroe go into the game on the back of Saturday's convincing 4-1 win at home to Congleton Town, which moved them to within two points of leaders Mossley with two games in hand.

Delighted Sculpher said: "It's been a very tense time so it was good to get the win. At 3-0 I was able to take a couple of players off to keep them fresh for the run-in.

"We've played three games in a week now and have won two and drawn one so that's not bad."

He added: "Ramsbottom have been scoring quite a lot of goals recently, which should make for an interesting game.

"As long as we score more goals than them I'm not bothered what happens. But I'm sure they'll be doing everything in their power to make sure we don't get any points at all tonight."

Sculpher is boosted by having a full squad to choose from, while Ramsbottom chief Overson also expects to have a strong squad at his disposal after their own 4-1 win at Atherton Collieries at the weekend.

"The conditions were awful," he said.

"It was a scrappy game but the pitch made it that way.

"It's always nice to win but when you win 4-1 it's all the sweeter."

While title challengers Mossley will be hoping the Riverside outfit can do them a favour by keeping Clitheroe at arm's length, Overson admitted that his sole concern was that his side finished on top, regardless of the effect that it would have on the opposition.

"I just want the three points," he said.

"I've got nothing against Clitheroe winning the title, my only concern is Ramsbottom and I want us to win."