Prestwich Aim For Historic Final
Wed 4th March 2020 | Lancashire Challenge Trophy | By Martin Fallon
This evening sees Prestwich Heys travel to the Lancashire FA's County Ground in Leyland, looking to book a place in the Final of the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy for the very first time.
Prestwich are relative newcomers to the competition, which has been held every season bar two since the first one in 1885/86. They first entered in the four years they were in the NWCFL in the early 1980's, with the 2nd Round being their best performance. And in the last three years that they have played in it since rejoining the NWCFL, the Quarter Finals has been their best, losing last season to Bamber Bridge.
And it is Bamber Bridge who stand in their way once again this season. The Northern Premier League side have reached four Finals in the past, winning their first in 1994/95 against favourites Morecambe, but losing the next three, the last of which came in 2010/11 when they lost to AFC Fylde.
Prestwich currently lie in 6th place in the league, but a good run in the last quarter of the season could see them snatch one of the four promotion spots on offer. They are in good form, losing just one of their last nine games, and come into the Semi Final on the back of successive 3-1 wins against Garstang and St Helens Town.
There are three divisions and 56 league places that seperate the two sides, with Brig currently in 12th place in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. They are also in good form, winning four of their last six games, and they beat promotion chasing FC United of Manchester 3-0 in their last game. Much of their success has come at Irongate this season, but away from home they have the second worst away form in the league, with just three wins from sixteen league games.
Prestwich, who have played all their games in the competition away from home, won through the first two rounds on penalties. They beat Padiham 6-5 after a 0-0 draw, before beating West Didsbury & Chorlton 5-3 after a 2-2 draw. They then reached the Semi Final after a stunning 5-2 away win at Colne in the Quarter Finals.
Bridge have beaten three NWCFL sides so far in what has been a favourable draw for them. They won 3-2 at Longridge Town in the First Round, with two goals in the last seven minutes putting them through. They then went goal crazy against sides three divisions lower than them, beating Nelson 6-3 in the Second Round and Wythenshawe Amatuers 5-0 in the Quarter Finals.
Kick off at the County Ground in Leyland is 7.45pm.
Prestwich Aim For Historic Final
Wed 4th March 2020 | Lancashire Challenge Trophy
By Martin Fallon
This evening sees Prestwich Heys travel to the Lancashire FA's County Ground in Leyland, looking to book a place in the Final of the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy for the very first time.
Prestwich are relative newcomers to the competition, which has been held every season bar two since the first one in 1885/86. They first entered in the four years they were in the NWCFL in the early 1980's, with the 2nd Round being their best performance. And in the last three years that they have played in it since rejoining the NWCFL, the Quarter Finals has been their best, losing last season to Bamber Bridge.
And it is Bamber Bridge who stand in their way once again this season. The Northern Premier League side have reached four Finals in the past, winning their first in 1994/95 against favourites Morecambe, but losing the next three, the last of which came in 2010/11 when they lost to AFC Fylde.
Prestwich currently lie in 6th place in the league, but a good run in the last quarter of the season could see them snatch one of the four promotion spots on offer. They are in good form, losing just one of their last nine games, and come into the Semi Final on the back of successive 3-1 wins against Garstang and St Helens Town.
There are three divisions and 56 league places that seperate the two sides, with Brig currently in 12th place in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. They are also in good form, winning four of their last six games, and they beat promotion chasing FC United of Manchester 3-0 in their last game. Much of their success has come at Irongate this season, but away from home they have the second worst away form in the league, with just three wins from sixteen league games.
Prestwich, who have played all their games in the competition away from home, won through the first two rounds on penalties. They beat Padiham 6-5 after a 0-0 draw, before beating West Didsbury & Chorlton 5-3 after a 2-2 draw. They then reached the Semi Final after a stunning 5-2 away win at Colne in the Quarter Finals.
Bridge have beaten three NWCFL sides so far in what has been a favourable draw for them. They won 3-2 at Longridge Town in the First Round, with two goals in the last seven minutes putting them through. They then went goal crazy against sides three divisions lower than them, beating Nelson 6-3 in the Second Round and Wythenshawe Amatuers 5-0 in the Quarter Finals.
Kick off at the County Ground in Leyland is 7.45pm.
