CLITHEROE are set to unleash one of the most potent strike forces in the North West Counties League on Cogenhoe United tomorrow.

The Blues travel to Northamptonshire for the FA Vase third round clash against the Eagle Bitter United Counties Premier League side.

And with Lee Cryer back in the team after injury and his strike partner Neil Spencer set to recover from a slight thigh strain the pair, who scored 58 goals between them last season, are set to start a game together for the first time since August.

"Lee was out injured for about nine weeks," said Blues striker Spencer, who got 28 of the 58. "He started the game on Tuesday at Woodley Sports but I missed that one with this thigh strain but I hope to be fit for tomorrow.

"I definitely want to play. I would have played on Tuesday but I didn't want to chance it."

Cryer came through the Woodley game with no problems.

"It will be the first time we have started a game together since the first two games of the season," said Spencer, who has played in the UniBond League with Bamber Bridge and Atherton.

"I have had two or three strike partners this season and it takes a while to build up an understanding but Lee and I have already got that. And he takes the pressure off me if he is scoring!"

With the Blues' history in the Vase - they reached the final in 1996, the last eight in '98 and the semi-finals last year - there is an expectation at the club, but Spencer says that won't hinder the team.

"It will give us confidence because we think we should go through," said the 26-year-old. "This is the second year this side has been together, we haven't really lost any players, and we enjoyed it last season.

"I think we are taking 30 or 40 fans down with us tomorrow as well and that will help us."

Cogenhoe attract crowds of around 80 and the Blues can count on their supporters to make themselves heard.

"Our form is pretty good at the moment," said Spencer. "We are playing well but we have thrown goals away at the end of the last three games. It has just been lapses of concentration but we'll have to stamp it out."

Cogenhoe have finished runners-up in the UCL for the last two years and have former Northampton Town player Adie Mann, in his first season in charge, at the helm. Their danger man is Darren Harmon, the former Cobblers man who has scored 19 goals this season.

Cogenhoe are unbeaten in 12 games whereas the Blues, in contrast, have not won a league game since October 30 and lost their last game at Woodley.

Manager Lee Sculpher denied that the team had suffered a dip in form.

"There was no problem for 80 minutes against Woodley Sports but we didn't score the second goal.

"Then we couldn't keep hold of the ball and you have to do one or the other because they went on to score two late goals."