Vodkat North West Counties League Premier Division

FORMER Kidsgrove player Richard Eyre insists his comeback for Congleton Town this week was for one night only.

Eyre turned out for the Bears at Ashton Athletic on Tuesday and caught the eye with some fine crosses from the right wing.

He said: "I was doing a favour for joint-managers Ant Buckle and Darren Twigg, who I have known for a long time.

"Ant phoned me on Sunday to say they were struggling for numbers and would I play.

"I enjoyed it, even though I could hardly get out of bed the following morning. They have a good bunch of lads at Congleton and I know most of them."

Eyre, who played first-team football for Port Vale, announced his retirement at the end of last season when he was with Kidsgrove.

He was only 31, but wanted to spend more time with his young family, which he has done.

He said: "I have not kicked a ball for six months and not even watched football on television. I have kept myself fit by running, but that is nothing like match fitness."

Stuart Tulloch scored his first goal for a month to earn Congleton a draw in midweek, but Buckle was expecting to take more than one point from six from the two games at Atherton Collieries and Ashton.

NEWCASTLE Town manager Greg Clowes is disturbed by the "negative vibes" he claims are circulating at the Lyme Valley Stadium.

"It is the first time I have known it since I arrived nearly two years ago and I am not happy," he said. "People have short memories."

Three cup defeats in eight days have not helped the atmosphere, but Clowes reckons Castle's record in the league is probably in the top 20 in the country.

He said: "Fingers are being pointed and doubts expressed about the squad in some quarters. But our priority is the league and we have dropped just nine points out of 42.

"I take full responsibility for the cup defeats (League Cup, Staffs Senior and FA Vase) yet we could have won all three. There was a thin dividing line."

Castle bounced back to beat Winsford 2-0 on Tuesday, although for 70 minutes they were the inferior side.

Clowes said: "The difference was Winsford played extremely well and for 70 minutes made us look bad.

"But we have players who can come off the bench and make a difference and the game changed when Neville Thompson and Chris Budrys went on for the last 20 minutes."

Thompson scored with his first touch and a late Steve Smith penalty sealed the result.

Meanwhile, Newcastle Town have launched a Staffordshire non-league lottery aimed at raising funds for all participating clubs.

Like a football pools coupon, punters have to select eight results from 24 games and a star game.

The lottery is the brainchild of Castle commercial executive Geoff Eccleston, who is looking to spread the word among all local sports clubs, not just football.

He said: "The coupon will run all year round and in the summer will feature local cricket fixtures."

Full details from Eccleston on 07939 953792 .

ALSAGER Town manager Neil Gill believes the midweek defeat at Runcorn Linnets in the FA Vase will bond the squad closer together.

The Bullets went out on a penalty shoot-out after being both behind and ahead in the 90 minutes.

Gill said: "Penalties are always a lottery, but it was frustrating to lose because again we were the better side.

"The lads showed a lot of character after trailing 1-0 at half-time and I think the performance will stand us in good stead.

"It will bring us closer together as a team and squad and showed us how good we can be.

"It proved to me I have a cracking bunch of lads and that we can move onwards and upwards."

Gill's son Kurtis had the misfortune to fire his penalty against the bar, while Linnets scored all five to win Wednesday's replay.

"It will make him a stronger player," said his father.