Next up: Ashton United. Venue: Surrey Street. Date: Saturday, March 5. THE Motormen make a short trip to Tameside this weekend to face Ashton United for the third time this season.
The two clubs clashed twice at Rivacre Park in the space of a fortnight back in November with Vauxhall winning an FA Trophy encounter 2-1 and honours even in a goalless league stalemate.
From next season onwards, the club, situated in Ashtonunder-Lyne, to the east of Manchester, plan to incorporate the name of their borough.
They would be known as 'Ashton Tameside United' although any change would depend on an agreement with the council to extend the club's current 20-year lease on their ground.
There have also been plenty of changes in the United dugout of late with two managerial switches since they last faced Vauxhall.
Gerry Quinn, who had been in charge for five years, was axed in December and Ashton originally earmarked Lancaster City boss Phil Wilson as their number one target.
Wirral-based Wilson had previously been in charge at neighbours Stalybridge Celtic on two occasions.
Despite chairman Tony Ryan saying that his board were looking for 'someone with experience at senior non-league level' and 'a proven track re-cord', they eventually went for previous manager Quinn's choice, goalkeeper Andy Johnston.
The 36-year-old, who Quinn said was the only potential boss able to hold on to Ashton's current squad of players, was originally brought in as caretaker manager.
He was then given the position on a 'full-time' basis in January but found himself relieved of his duties a month later following a sequence of disappointing results and has since joined Radcliffe Borough as a player.
The responsibility of preventing Ashton from returning straight back down into the UniBond League has now fallen on Paul Futcher's shoulders.
Based across the Pennines in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, Futcher had been out of the non-league game for two years working as a coach educator for the FA.
His previous clubs include Southport, Gresley and Stalybridge Celtic.
Last season: Won 1-0 on Tuesday, March 23, 2004.
The Motormen kept their place in the crucial top 13 placings with a well-earned victory thanks to a delightful strike from ace marksman Terry Fearns. The only goal of the game came on 55 minutes following some trademark Fearns magic.
A chipped pass from Steve Porter made its way to Fearns' feet and the striker shrugged off a challenge from powerful left-back DannyWhite before drilling a low shot beyond the reach of Johnston's outstretched left arm.
Form guide: Feb 26 L 3-1 v Worksop Town (A); Feb 21 PP v Alfreton Town (H); Feb 19 L 2-3 v Redditch United (H); Feb 14 L 3-4 v Hyde United (H); Feb 12 L 1-5 v Harrogate Town (A).
