KIRKHAM & WESHAM'S season just gets better and better and with good reason, after a mid-week derby victory over Blackpool Mechanics was secured with a 1-0 win at Kellamergh Park on Tuesday night in front of a record league gate.
Coupled with New Mills 2-0 defeat at Bootle, Kirkham have moved within touching distance of the Derbyshire leaders with four games in hand and only nine points adrift.
Kirkham boss Mick Fuller said: "It was a very workmanlike performance tonight and l have an idea now who will start at Coventry on Saturday.
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"Tonight was all about three points - we got those and when the news came through that New Mills had gone down at Bootle - well the feeling couldn't have been better."
New Mills, the Division's runaway leaders are next up at Kellamergh Park a week on Saturday (March 15) and already fans are eager to see what could be a title decider.
"Beat New Mills, win our games in hand and we could be six points clear," added boss Fuller.
"Now that would be tremendous and we can do it too," he said.
Only down side of the win over derby rivals Mechanics last night was the first-half injury on his debut to former Fleetwood ace, Ritchie Allen.
Allen took a knock on his right ankle a minute before the break and hobbled off, sitting out the second-half with his injury iced in the
dressing room.
"Allen said: "I'm gutted about this. I was really enjoying myself out there, but l'll do what's required to get fit as soon as l can."
"Ritchie showed us what people have been telling me all along," said Fuller.
"That he is different class. And he showed that in abundance tonight.
"Whatever it takes to get him fit for Coventry we will do this week.
"He gives us something else and l see no reason why we cannot go to Coventry and get the result we all want."
Kirkham's winner against Mechanics came after 51 minutes when Michael Horsfall's pin point cross was flicked on by Blackpool defender Paul Carroll
at the near post right into the path of the oncoming Phil Blackwell, who powered in the winner from three yards out with a forceful header.
While Mechanics certainly looked like a side on a mission they were unable to create anything up front to trouble the Kirkham back four and it always looked as if one chance might be decisive as it proved.
Early on Allen impressed on his debut.
Had a header cleared off the line, as did Blackwell, while arguably Mechanics best chance came when Kirkham keeper Pete Summerfield took a fresh air kick but recovered quickly enough
to avert the danger seven minutes after Kirkham had gone in front.
Mark Wane had a late chance for the home side cleared off the line on 86 minutes, while Mechanics best chance of the second-half came from a near post back header by Joel Cowell 10 minutes from time.
Mechs boss Stuart Parker said later: "We passed the ball around well enough at times without ever really troubling Kirkham and that was disappointing for me.
"They are a good side and l'm sure that they will do a good job at Coventry on Saturday.
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