GREAT HARWOOD manager John Hughes has told his players they must start raising their game in the league as they have done in cup competitions this season.

The NWCL second division side were beaten 4-1 by Conference team Southport on Tuesday but Hughes said his young side impressed.

"Their manager said to me after the game that I have got young talent in the team and he is right.

"We had five players out but in the first half it was hard to tell which was the Conference side.

"Then we scored first which was great.

"They scored just before half-time and then in the second half it came down to fitness and it was easy to see which team trains twice a week and who gets paid most for it."

Harwood were knocked out of the Worthington Trophy last Saturday, 1-0 at first division Ramsbottom, but had beaten another first division side, Abbey Hey, to get there.

"We raise our game for the cups and people who see those games wonder why we are not top of the league.

"But it is because I haven't had the same side out twice this season.

"I have been giving people their chance in the side and bringing new players in and it takes a while. I am hoping after Christmas we will have a more settled side and then we can start raising our game for league matches too.

"The problem is we are not killing teams off or taking our chances."

Steve Pickup and Shaun Bursnell have joined their former boss Denis Underwood at Nelson.

"Denis said he was short of players and I wanted to help him out so I released them," said Hughes.

Harwood are at home to Daisy Hill in NWCL Division Two tomorrow (kick off 2pm). Daisy Hill are coming off the back of a 5-0 drubbing by Colne last Saturday.