KENNY Mayers Town's top goalscorer last season quit the club after spending Tuesday night's match against Radcliffe Borough on the bench.

The big striker, who was injured towards the end of the previous campaign has been unable to force his way into a regular starting place this season and at 35 he wants to be playing first team football.

Despite his infrequent appearances this season Mayers is still eighth in the current top ten UniBond First Division goalscorers list, but Hesketh has preferred Lee Ashcroft (third in the list) and David Foster, whose goal last night put him level with Mayers.

"Kenny is too good a player and too nice a fellow to be stay on the bench," said Hesketh. "He has quite a few offers to consider, so we agreed mutually that he should move on.

"He has been fantastic when he has been with me at three different clubs and I can't speak too highly of him. I just wish him well.

"But the show must go on. We have Chris Ward on the bench, which is an absolute luxury. I am only he will see the season though with us as he will get some action, there is no two ways about it.

"I am certain he will prove to be a good goalscorer. His goal against Radcliffe was a great header, a match in which we showed in the second half that we could work as a team to come back from two goals behind. We did so in some style.

"At half-timewe were feeling a bit sorry for ourselves as we had been punished by two quality goals. But after that I thought the effort our players put in was enormous. Kilford and McKenna in particular covered every blade of grass for the cause, getting forward to support attacks then getting back to help out the defence.

"Against Belper on Saturday we had started well and got our two goal lead. Left back Paul Rigby then had a chance after a fine move, but snatched at it and within seconds they got a free-kick at the other and came up with a massive strike. I though the next goal would be crucial at it could have been 3-1, but it ended up two apiece which took a bit of wind out of our sails.

"I left Paul Rigby out on Tuesday to give new signing young Owen Roberts, a chance as away to Ossett Albion this weekend we are without both centre backs. Dene Whittal Williams is on a coaching course and Nigel Taylor has a one-match suspension. Roberts will play at left back with Rigby reverting to his former right back position and Paul Sparrow moving into the centre. Dave Woodruffe, who left six weeks ago because of business committents but retained his registration, will make up the other place in the back four.