MIDDLEWICH Town will look to bounce back from successive defeats when they visit Daten in Cheshire League One on Saturday.

The teams drew 3-3 at Seddon Street on the season’s opening day, but the Witches' opponents have lost three league matches in a row since.

However John O'Sullivan's men are similarly out of sorts following a 1-0 defeat against Grappenhall Sports at the weekend in their JA Walton Challenge Cup group-stage opener, when Cody Black scored the Warrington side’s winner.

That followed a 3-0 defeat at Tarporley Victoria in midweek.

Callum Priestley made the Vics goalkeeper work early on with an effort from the edge of the box, then miscued a header from James Smith’s back-post cross.

Middlewich fell behind on eight minutes when a Tarporley player was allowed to jump unopposed to head in from a corner.

And The hosts doubled their lead when Dan Ball was allowed to drift inside and fire a deflected shot past Town custodian Charlie Masters.

The visitors had chances after the interval, when Michael Evans' volley was saved, Smith shot straight at the goalkeeper Dave McNeil and Priestley failed to convert Matty Jamieson’s cross.

But the outcome was settled after Leon Robinson tripped an opponent in the penalty area and, though Masters saved the resulting spot kick, Carl Wade turned the loose ball into his own goal.

Middlewich reserves won 3-1 at their Malpas counterparts last Thursday, when Matthew Cann, James Smith and Chris Holbrooks were their scorers.

They host Golborne this weekend.