Skelmersdale United manager Tommy Lawson says he is pushing his players to the limit in their UniBond First Division North title bid

Apr 9 2009 by Philip Kirkbride, Skelmersdale Advertiser

Skelmersdale United manager Tommy Lawson says he is pushing his players to the limit in their UniBond First Division North title bid

SKELMERSDALE United manager Tommy Lawson admits he is continually pushing his players to the limit in their title bid, writes Phil Kirkbride.

United are second in the UniBond First Division North, three points behind leaders Durham City with a game in hand but holding an inferior goal difference.

With six games remaining, the championship race looks set to go to the wire but Lawson would not entertain the idea of setting points or wins total.

Instead the Skem boss was keen to stress the importance of not looking further than the next game, a trip to Warrington Town tomorrow afternoon.

He said: “How many wins do we need for the title? I am not even going there. Honestly, all I am thinking about now is Warrington tomorrow, I am not talking cliches but we are only going to look at games in little blocks. The last block was the four games in eight days we had which we said would go a long way to fashioning what we achieve this season. We have come through that and spoke to the lads on Tuesday night and said in the next block of three games we need the same.

“We keep raising the bar, I know it is unfair but it is what we have to do to achieve as much as possible with the lads, it is a stern test for them. The fact we are in a title race is all we are focussing on because we can’t dictate what Durham do. We are raising the bar all the time and I think the lads deserve credit for what they have achieved.”

United secured consecutive 2-1 victories this week against FC Halifax Town and Chorley to keep pace with the league leaders and Lawson says matches against mid-table sides at this stage of the season are particularly dangerous. Following the Good Friday trip to Warrington, United welcome Clitheroe to the Skem and Ormskirk College Stadium on Monday, with both games kicking off at 3pm.

Lawson added: “I think at this time of the season you are encountering different types of pitches which does make the games a little closer. Plus mid-table teams have not got a lot to play for, other than to look for so-called scalps against teams like us. We are playing well so are up there to be shot at.

“Another year and Skem would have been out in front and leading the table but Durham have done well and we have managed to keep neck and neck with them.

“I imagine Clitheroe will come here to spoil the party and put us down, but that is fine because that is what we are up against.”

Thomas Moore is an injury doubt with ankle ligament damage but Neil Robinson, Kevin Towey and Chris Almond should return.