Wetheriggs United are hoping to make club history tonight when they attempt to win the County Cup for the first time.
The Westmorland League side are lining up at Penrith’s Frenchfield at 7pm tonight against Carlisle City – opponents who are also chasing a special target of their own.
City have come with a rattle over the last fortnight and still have a chance of winning the Northern League Division Two title.
Wetheriggs are hoping it will be third time lucky having already lost two cup finals recently – the Benevolent Cup and the Westmorland Senior Cup.
Secretary Colin Parker accepts that Wetheriggs will be underdogs and that they face a tough challenge.
They will also be without a recent casualty, the lively Brandon Robertson, who suffered a serious knee ligament injury to end his season.
“We are still chasing the Westmorland League title. At the moment we are second in the table, five points behind Kirkoswald but with six games in hand.
“We play them on Wednesday, May 3 so obviously that’s going to be a key game.
“It was back in 2012/13 when we last won the Westmorland League so it will be good to regain the title.
“Although we have never won the County Cup we did reach the final in the 1987/88 season when we played a very good Gretna side and only lost 1-0 after extra time.
“We know it will be tough tonight but the players are looking forward to it and to doing themselves justice.”
Carlisle City
City manager Jim Nichols knows it’s a big week for his side.
After tonight they travel to lowly Esh Winning on Thursday and on Saturday host fifth-placed Ryton and Crowcrock Albion.
They are currently five points behind long-time leaders Heaton Stannington who complete their programme on Saturday at fourth-placed Easington Colliery.
The scenario is this – if Carlisle City win their last two games and Heaton Stannington lose on Saturday then the Sky Blues will be champions and gain promotion to the First Division.
“That’s to come but the main focus since Saturday has been on tonight. We want to win the County Cup again.
“I believe the last time we won was 2004 and that was only the third time, which is not enough for a club of our stature.
“We have virtually a full squad to pick from but I’m expecting a hard game. I have watched a couple of videos of Wetheriggs and I’m sure they will make it tough for us.
“I actually know quite a few of their players because I had them when I was in charge of Penrith.”
It’s not too long ago that City were in the bottom half of the Northern League Division Two table. Having games in hand doesn’t guarantee you an automatic rise.
Nichols said: “To be fair I don’t think we’ve played any better recently than we did early in the season. But the games have been coming thick and fast and we’ve dealt successfully with them.
“It would be terrific to take it to the last game of the season on Saturday. I’m sure there’s going to be pressure on Heaton Stannington because they’ve led the table since early September and they haven’t shaken us off.
“First things first, though, and that’s a County Cup final we want to win.”
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