TERRY Murphy is backing two Middlewich Town teenage strikers to hit the heights - and they are both from Winsford.

Rob Hopley and Lewis Warren are making their names at Seddon Street and manager Murphy believes how well they do will be up to them.

'They have all the attributes but success is also about attitude - they have to want to go higher, and if they want to they will,' said manager Murphy.

Hopley, 18, was promoted from the reserves at the start of the season and quickly adapted to the higher standard of the Mid Cheshire League First Division.

'A few clubs are looking at Rob and it does not surprise me. He goes past players for fun and has great technique. He's got pace and is a six-footer.

'He and John Hurst, who joined the first-team squad from the reserves at the same time, have done brilliantly. Rob has got eight goals and needs to score more. He can and that part of his game will develop.

'We play at a good standard but at his age, if he is going to make it, then he will need to be playing a higher standard, say the UniBond League, soon.'

Warren, 16, scored a hat-trick in three successive games for Middlewich Reserves last month and has already had trials with Port Vale.

Murphy picked him up from Witton Albion Under 17s and he has quickly established himself in the MCL Reserves Division.

'There are some cracking youngsters in our reserves and Vale wanted a look at Lewis this week, and that's fine as long he doesn't sign anything!

'Now is the time when they should be having a go. There is money to be made in this game, even if it is only in the UniBond and Conference - and who knows, they might earn Middlewich a bob or two as well.'

Middlewich have advanced to third in the Mid Cheshire League and on Saturday are at second-placed Linotype, where they were recent 3-1 winners in the Cheshire Amateur Cup.

'It will be hard and I believe they have added two players to the team since we won there.

'There is still a long way to go but it is starting to look like there are four teams that will contest the title,' added Murphy.

Middlewich will be without Joe Roberts, who has a hamstring injury. But they coped well without him in beating Broadheath 3-0 and have a new midfield fulcrum of Matt Hitchen - who has joined from Knutsford for his second spell at his hometown club - and Lee Murphy. They provide the physical authority, allowing Ryan Broadhead more scope as playmaker.

Marcus Hawkins, the Reserve fullback, played in goal for the first team but gives way to newcomer Warrick Brookes at Lino. Brookes started the campaign at Winsford United and has since played for Northwich Vics Res. ALAN Burbidge, president of Cheshire FA for 25 years and with nearly 50 years service in all, died on Tuesday. He lived at Norley and had been involved in the opening of the new County headquarters three weeks ago.