Although the strikers have an embryonic partnership at the moment, they showed signs in last Saturday’s 5-0 win over Flixton that they will be a pair to be feared.

Hurst opened the scoring on 14 minutes after Elliott and Dave Young linked up beautifully on the right-hand side, beating the full back between them and giving the latter time to cross.

In division two, Denton Town edged out Poynton 3-2 to remain in sixth position.

Bloods’ boss Dave Pace revealed that everyone will be allowed into the Butcher’s Arms free of charge for Saturday’s Blue Square North match with Eastwood Town.

The Hitman will hold a press conference in the coming days to confirm the end of his career after making a dramatic U-turn on a planned comeback.

Despite having to play for an hour with only 10 men, the home side was still able to come back from a goal down to complete a league double over United.

Hobson had been on the field less than four minutes when he was injured by a reckless and strangely unpunished challenge from Town keeper Aaron Ratchford, who had already flattened Joe O’Neill for a penalty shout that went unheeded by York official Geoff Freer.

Young has brought striker Garry Kharas back into the fold at Surrey Street after five seasons away.

The Hillmen gave a good account of themselves before the break, but ultimately fitness and quality showed through.

They were helped by the home side’s disjointed performance but was the sense of injustice correct?

Having already been docked three points for fielding an ineligible player earlier in the season, Curzon were hit with a 10-point penalty – half of which were suspended – in October for financial irregularities.

Goals from Tony Gray and Shaun Whalley gave Droylsden a 2-0 win at the Butcher’s Arms on Monday night.

Danny Johnson boosted his stretched striking options by the signing of striker Clive Moyo-Modise from Altrincham who showed some neat touches and was denied a goal by the woodwork.

Continued pressure saw them awarded a penalty in front of the posts which James Worrall converted to make it 3-0.

The hosts began well enough, with the impressive Neil Prince registering three shots off target, although he should have done better with at least one.

The first half saw Curzon make too many uncharacteristic mistakes and it only took five minutes for Prescot to take advantage.

The game had got off to a blistering start with a succession of chances for both teams inside the opening 10 minutes.

Monday night’s postponed game at New Mills leaves North End with 21 league games to play in 10 weeks.

They frustrated Glossop in the first half, with Steve Young’s side looking the better team, but failing to break through.

Many of the club’s younger children travelled over to Llandudno for the 2010 Junction Mini-Mons whilst the more experienced fighters took part in the North West Open Championships in St Helens.

Having raised £4,500 themselves, the Lilywhites, managed by John Flanagan were boosted by a pledge from Dukinfield-based business GT Grafix to cover the shortfall in the money the club needed to raise for the new floodlights.

It was the stuff that fairytales are made of as the player-boss was a reluctant fifth substitute and did not introduce himself until the last five minutes.

Mossley were without the unavailable Steve Settle, Lee Blackshaw, Steve Moore and Nathan Neequaye while manager John Flanagan was able to name only three substitutes.

The clock was ticking into the 96th minute when captain for the day Warren Peyton stepped up to convert a late spot kick and give Jim Harvey his first win in the Bower Fold hotseat.

For a local derby, the crowd did not see a classic game of football but there was pride and commitment from both sides.

The match was called off five minutes into the second half because of a waterlogged pitch at the Butcher’s Arms.

When it came though, the winning goal was one of real quality.

The former Morecambe and Forest Green manager – and Northern Ireland assistant boss – has agreed a deal to take charge until the end of the season.

Despite dominating the game for long periods, the Bower Boys crashed to their fifth defeat in seven games.

After not having won since September, this was the Tigers’ second win in a week as they attempt to climb away from the relegation zone. With games in hand, Hyde’s task looks somewhat easier than it did two weeks ago.

The hosts almost took the lead in the opening minute, but Ian Kearney’s header struck the upright. Ashton’s wide men, Matty O’Neill and Iain Howard, both put in a number of dangerous crosses and Callum Flanagan was twice off target with headers.

On how his team had bettered themselves so much, Dave Pace simply said it was due to "hard training and some hard words!"

The home side showed their intent from the off, running the ball out of defence after Burnley’s kick off and carrying possession all the way up to the opposition 22, before the winger was forced into touch.

Earlier in the season it was Darren Hamilton who netted three time in the games but last Saturday’s hat-trick came from a most unlikely source – right-back Dave Young.

The former Sale Harrier will be joined by another ex-Harrier, Allyn Condon, for the Games in Vancouver.

Fighters from across the country were in action, all bidding to earn ranking points as they seek places in the national squad.

A ferocious early drive by their forwards saw Keswick driven off their own ball and a good clearance upfield, setting the tone for the rest of the game as a hugely superior Audenshaw pack dominated every phase.

Beard, like Hatton a Mancunian, has been associated with the former two-weight world champion for several years dating back to the boxer’s time with Billy Graham.

The Robins had the lion’s share of possession and created the majority of chances throughout the 90 minutes.

Another new signing, Luke Morgan, made the bench for a Curzon team which dominated the opening half.

The Hillmen host St Helens Town on Saturday having only played 19 of their 42 league fixtures in the opening four-and-half months of the Vodkat League campaign.

The winter’s poor weather leaves North End facing an arduous final three months of the season that comprises 23 league games, a Manchester Premier Cup semi-final with Droylsden and a League Cup replay with AFC Liverpool.

Lowe has brought in keeper Mike Hale on a month’s loan from Bamber Bridge as cover for Javier Sanchez, as well as wide man Luke Morgan from Stafford Rangers.

A week-and-a-half ago, the 22-year-old Sale Harrier set a new best of 4.91m at a competition in France.

He is in action at York Hall, Bethnal Green, on February 26 as part of the eight-man bill.

The Bloods missed a whole host of chances to take the lead, and had they done so they probably would have gone on to win.

The only Vodkat League clubs to have applied to join the next step of the pyramid are Bootle, Congleton Town, New Mills, Newcastle Town and Ramsbottom United.

All that the North End boss will feel is frustration that the Liverpool-supporting visitors defended like their lives depended on it to deny the Hillmen progress into the quarter finals, with a replay now required on February 3.

In division one, Gamesley earned three points with a 3-1 victory against Greenalls PSO to leave them fifth in the table, six points behind leaders Woodley and with two games in hand.

Aidan Jackson crossed on four occasions with Matt Dodd and Luke Poole also scoring, while George Richardson landed three conversions and a penalty for the visitors.

The Hawks opened proceedings with a 2-1 victory as Charlie Plevin and Will Howard scored their goals.

Bolton’s WBA light-welterweight champion has joined forces with Oscar De La Hoya’s company – with whom the Hitman also has a close working relationship – ending a five-year association with Frank Warren.

Fighting in the under-15 category in Eindhoven, the 12-year-old found himself up against the best of the home competitors and the Belgian number one.

Talbot was brought to Hurst Cross during the festive period following the exit of Johnson’s long-time number two Danny Jones before Christmas.