WINSFORD United resume their bid for a top-six finish when they travel to Darwen tomorrow.

Blues head north stung by losing a North West Counties League fixture in front of their own supporters for the first time in close to four months on Monday, when they went down 3-2 against Irlam.

It leaves them 10th in the Premier Division table.

“We didn’t perform in the way we know we can,” said player-manager Lee Duckworth.

“Irlam exposed our naivety, and they battled harder than we did.”

He has so far resisted the temptation to select Michael Langley since the goalkeeper’s return to St Luke’s Barton Stadium from Runcorn Town, sticking instead with Matthew Green.

However he told the Guardian that he is considering a recall for the fans’ favourite this weekend.

Winsford will be without influential midfielder James Rothwell, who has been in outstanding form, and Danny Egan.

Both are unavailable.

Meanwhile Sam Parr and Josh Perry, absent for the meeting with Irlam, are missing too.

Winsford take on hosts buoyed by losing only one of their past four matches, although that was against a doomed Cammell Laird side that had failed to win any of their previous 34 league games this term.

Blues scored twice in the closing stages to win last season’s corresponding fixture, while the rivals played out a 1-1 draw in September.