MANAGER Dave Twite has received a boost from his Middlewich Town squad as they prepare to complete their first season in the Mid-Cheshire League this weekend.

Twite feels he has persuaded most of his first team squad to stay at Seddon Street to push for promotion next season.

Town, half-way through their two-year commitment to the Mid-Cheshire League, are also hoping to install floodlights in the next step in their ground upgrading plan.

This will give the team the perfect springboard to push for promotion back to the North Western Trains League, which they were kicked out of a year ago for not meeting a grading deadline.

The way his team are finishing the season is giving Twite every confidence in the club's ambitions.

He said: "I've spoken to most of the players and I think they're quite happy with us and the set up.

"There are a couple I'm unsure about but we want to give it a good go next year.

"Some of the players haven't played at this standard before so we've had a bit of success with the new lads. But we still need another three or four."

A full-back, a ball winning midfielder and a striker are top of Twite's wanted list when the close season begins next week.

Despite losing teenagers Karl Walton and Gareth Langley, who have both since played for Winsford United, impressive performances by the likes of Les Miranda, Brian Nicholson and Rob Cochran have inspired Town to take seven points from the last nine available.

Twite added: "We're happy to stay in the Mid-Cheshire and give it a push next season. Below Barnton, there's little between the teams in this league and we've proved that with recent results.

"But our ground grading is the most important thing if we're going to move up."

Middlewich followed up last Wednesday's emphatic 4-1 win over Bollington with a draw at Warrington Borough on Saturday.

They play their last away fixture at AFC Zeneca tonight (Wednesday, 6.30pm) before completing their Mid-Cheshire Division One campaign at home to Rylands on Saturday (3pm).

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