COLNES' hopes of a top four finish will be put to the test in the coming week with four games in just eight days.

Nigel Coates' in-form side entertain lowly Atherton LR tomorrow before making the short trips to Bacup Borough on Monday and Ramsbottom United on Wednesday.

Colne then face Winsford United next weekend.

"This will be a stern test for my squad," said Coates who welcomes Neil Harris and Ted Cockett back in to the squad. "Four games in eight days is tough for anyone but, when you have such a small squad, it makes it that much harder."

"But we are still in a group of teams fighting for that fourth place and that is something we are aiming for."

NELSON manager Nick Jackson-Cooney insists his side must stop being bullied if they are to escape relegation from Division One.

The Blues have four games to save their skin after crumbling 4-1 at home to Newcastle Town last week.

The damage was done in the opening half as Newcastle scored three goals before the interval.

Ahead of tomorrow's home trip to Flixton, Jackson-Cooney said: "We let ourselves down in the first-half.

"I was still walking out of the changing rooms when Newcastle took the lead, and the game was pretty much all over by half-time.

"We've now got four games left and it's going to be a battle.

"We cannot allow ourselves to be bullied. It's got to be us doing all the bullying."

Teenager Luke Gornall may come in for his full Padiham debut as the Storks travel to Bootle tomorrow.

The 17-year-old came on as a late substitute in Tuesday night's 2-0 defeat to Kirkham & Wesham.

But with nothing much to play for in the remainder of the season, boss Anthony McCluskey is handing out chances to a few untried players.

Padiham secretary Alan Smith said: "We are trying out a few players in both the first-team and reserve-team.

"It may be to the detriment of one or two results, but we've given an opportunity for some of the youth-teamers to have a run in the reserves, and for some of our more senior reserve team players in the first-team."

BACUP Borough will be looking to push clear of the Division One relegation zone when they travel to Maine Road.

Brent Peters' men climbed out of the bottom two last Saturday with a 1-1 draw at home to Winsford United.

And boasting several games in hand on their nearest rivals, Borough will be confident of preserving their status.

DARWEN are without a weekend fixture for the second successive Saturday.

Manager Dennis Hill will give several of his first team players run-outs in tonight's reserve fixture at Burscough before entertaining Kirkham & Wesham in Division Two next Thursday.

RAMSBOTTOM United are without a fixture in Vodkat Division One this weekend.

Neil Hart's side have three games remaining following last Saturday's 1-1 draw against Squires Gate.

United were in action last night, against Tempest United in the last eight of the Bolton Hospitals Cup.