Seasiders target three in a row

Whitby Town player-manager Darren Williams is hoping to put one over on his old Premier League rival Gary Flitcroft and beat his Chorley side for the third time this season today [Saturday], writes Andrew Snaith.

Eighth-placed Chorley, who've won their last five games since a 6-1 home thumping from Rushall, visit Whitby's Turnbull Ground. Town beat the Lancashire outfit 3-1 in the FA Trophy in December at Victory Park and secured a dramatic 3-2 success at the same venue in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's Premier Division three days after Christmas.

Williams said: "Chorley have picked up some decent points over the last so many weeks. Garry Flitcroft's a friend of mine and he won't want me to do the treble over him this year. I'm sure he'll have [his] lads wound up.

"It'll be a tough game, as it always is against Chorley. It's always a good game of football too, but we're looking forward to it, there's an opportunity for us to do the treble and it'll be great if we can do."

Williams could also add a new face to his side against the Magpies or wait until Easter Monday's Yorkshire derby at Frickley Athletic after returning to his former club Sunderland before the close of Thursday's transfer deadline day for left-back Glen Lane.

The versatile 18-year-old can play on either side of defence or midfield and had been with the Premier League side since the age of nine, making 26 appearances for their Under-18s and turning out against the Seasiders, last summer.

The 35-year-old Blues boss, who made 200 appearances for the Black Cats himself, told whitby-town.com: "He's a really good player and gives us a fair bit of scope, which is great to go into the final stage of the season."