STRIKER Matty Derbyshire continues to be the star of the show for Great Harwood - but manager John Hughes can't smile because of the officials.

Derbyshire, 17, has scored 10 goals in the last four league games. But, while Hughes is pleased with the teenager, the Harwood boss says he is finding some of the decisions from the referees and their assistants frustrating.

"I find myself getting annoyed but it is not with the way the team play, it is the officials," said Hughes. "I end up losing my rag. I go home all wound up with a headache and it is because I can't believe some of the decisions."

He felt some of these went against his side in Monday night's 2-2 draw with Cheadle - a game he expected to win.

"I didn't agree with some things but what can you do?" said Hughes. "They had two long-range shots all game and scored them. We should have had a couple before that but we did come back from 2-0 down so the young lads did show spirit. But it was a disappointing result."

Harwood are now eight games unbeaten following their 4-0 Saturday win over Castleton - with Derbyshire getting four - and the draw with Cheadle. But Hughes knows his team can do better.

"If we carry on playing like we are, I would hope we would be in the top four so we will be in the UniBond when the leagues are restructured at the end of the season. I am obviously happy to be unbeaten and I am content to be in the top six at the moment. If you are at the top people always want to beat you so I just want us to stay around the top - and make our move later on."

Harwood, though, will be without striker John Eastham for the next few months. He suffered knee ligament damage in the last 10 minutes of the Cheadle game. And Neil Kennedy and Dave Sharples begin one-week and 35 -day suspensions respectively for their dismissals earlier in the season.

Harwood are in Division Two Trophy action on Saturday when they make the short trip to Nelson. And on Wednesday, they face a league trip to Winsford.

  • HARWOOD have signed Kendal boss Pete Smith. Striker Smith will play midweek games for the Showground side.