Oulton and Westwood in contention for Diamonds

Both players made welcome returns from injury lay-offs during Diamonds’ 3-2 defeat to Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division side Buxton in the quarter-finals of the Integro League Cup on Tuesday night.

Westwood completed 80 minutes on his return after he suffered a knee injury during his debut for the club during the 4-0 win over Loughborough Dynamo towards the end of January while Oulton featured for the last 20 minutes as he made his comeback after six months on the sidelines following a knee operation.

And the timing couldn’t have been any better for Diamonds boss Andy Peaks as he and his team gear up for the final push to secure a Division One South play-off place.

Peaks said: “I spoke to both Ross and Callum yesterday (Wednesday) morning and it looks like they have both come through it unscathed.

“They will train again tonight and it looks like they will both be in contention for the weekend, which is fantastic for us.

“Ross, in particular, has come on a long way in the past couple of weeks.

“It was great to get him back out there and I think he is going to be there or thereabouts for the run-in.”

Peaks, meanwhile, paid tribute to striker Tom Lorraine who became the clubs’ all-time leading scorer when he scored his 51st goal in Diamonds’ colours when opening the scoring with a penalty against Buxton on Tuesday.

“Shanks (Lorraine) has a massive part to play for us in the rest of the season,” Peaks added.

“He was captain on Tuesday and he got the goal and in doing so, he has given me more food for thought.

“He gives us 100 per cent no matter what position I ask him to play in.

“He is a great lad and he now holds the record outright and I think it is fully deserved.”