BACUP Borough boss Brent Peters is hoping for a brighter start to 2018 than the final few weeks of this year.

Borough play their final game of the calendar year away at promotion chasing Prestwich Heys tomorrow having suffered a tough end to 2017.

Peters' side went five weeks without a game after nine successive matches were called off and when they did return to action on Boxing Day, they were beaten 3-0 by struggling neighbours Nelson.

The Prestwich game is the first of three successive league matches against sides currently in the top four and off the field Peters admitted that they have been financially hit by five home fixtures having been hit by the weather.

"It's been crippling the club," said Peters of the recent enforced break. "The games do not called off until the day when the match officials arrive and obviously by then we have already sorted the catering and the programmes. It is a financial nightmare.

"We wanted the game on Boxing Day to be on as we were expecting a good crowd and with it being a local game we were able to give it every chance.

"Unfortunately we didn't adapt to the conditions.

"Credit to Nelson because they adapted to the conditions far better.

"It was terrible conditions and we have some talented footballers here and we have to adapt to pitches and we didn't. We tried to play and we couldn't.

"Nelson didn't cause us any real problems, they scored two goals from corners and we conceded a penalty which I don't think was one. That is disappointing and there was some naive defending from us."

Peters must now rouse his troops for a testing run of fixtures which also includes a Macron Cup second round game against higher division Ashton Athletic on Tuesday.

But he is more than confident his side will start to climb the table, with Borough having played the fewest matches (15) of anyone in the division and having up to eight games in hand on the rest of the league.

"They are tough games," Peters said of the run of fixtures which sees them play third placed Prestwich tomorrow before hosting Litherland, who are second, and Alsager who are currently third.

"But the teams we should be playing should be wary of us.

"We are down in 17th but we have so many games in hand and are way behind everyone else. If we can take some points from them we will be in a much better position.

"You can read the league table how you want and at the moment, with the games in hand we have, we are looking up.

"We can beat anyone on our day."

Elsewhere in the First Division tomorrow Nelson, buoyed their victory at Bacup last time out, look to make it two wins in a row when they host Chadderton, The Admirals are eight points adrift of safety at the foot of the table but are unbeaten in three in all competitions.

In the Premier Division, Barnoldswick Town are at home to Ashton Athletic while Padiham visit West Didsbury & Chorlton. AFC Darwen, in the relegation zone, are on the road at Squires Gate.

In the Evo-Stik North, in form Clitheroe look to continue their recent resurgence when they travel to Scarborough.

Simon Haworth's side have pieced together seven straight wins in all competitions including a 6-0 derby day success at Colne on Boxing Day.

That run of form has lifted the Blues into eighth place, with the play-offs very firmly in their sights.

At the other end of the table, Colne, in 16th, entertain Colwyn Bay while Ramsbottom, a place higher up, host Hyde United.