NCEL League Cup Preview
3rd May, 2009
Last preparations for this season's grand climax, the KoolSport NCEL League Cup Final, are well underway.
The clash sees the Premier Division's second against third placed teams, Long Eaton United and Selby Town, play it out for the last bit of silverware at Staveley Miners Welfare's Inkersall Road ground tomorrow.
Long Eaton go into the game having just taken runners-up spot with a 4-0 win over Hall Road Rangers on Saturday, thought to be their highest ever finishing position.
Selby will want to get some sort of revenge after they claimed their place in the Final last week in a dramatic 4-3 victory in extra-time at Winterton Rangers.
Long Eaton are taking a coach load of supporters on the short journey up to North Derbyshire and say they are "so so excited" to be in the showpiece final.
Joining them will be local Labour councillor Roland Hosker who has backed the club's efforts on- and off-the-field and Councillor Barbara Harrison, Mayor of Erewash, in what will be one of her final duties before her term of office ends.
And, the club say that they will overcome the loss of two of their strikers, David Wilkins who is suspended and Craig Mitchell who is cup-tied.
Selby Town, meanwhile, have the longer trip and so will be determined to make sure the journey home is a happy one.
They, like Long Eaton, have never won the League Cup and want to lift it to bring to an end what secretary Tommy Arkley has described as a "fantastic season".
It has been their best campaign since they were narrowly beaten to the Premier Division title by Goole AFC by two points in the 2004/05 season.
In fact, this season's points tally of 80 would have been enough to get them promoted then.
And, they will be hoping for a repeat result of their last meeting back in March when they beat Long Eaton 3-0 at the Selby Times Stadium with a Sean Gorman brace and one from Chris Kamara.
But, underlying how close this encounter is, Long Eaton won the reverse fixture 5-1 in November.
Long Eaton have the form going into the encounter, winning six of their last eight games, whilst Selby have won four and drawn two of their last eight.
Whatever happens, good luck to both sides, in what should be a thrilling climax to a dramatic KoolSport NCEL season.
Admission prices for the game that kicks off at 3pm are ?5 and ?3 concessions.
ROUTES TO THE FINAL:
Long Eaton United:
2nd Rd - 12th Nov 2008 - Bottesford Town (a) - W6-5aet
3rd Rd - 21st Jan 2009 - Lincoln Moorlands Railway (a) - W2-0
4th Rd - 31st Mar 2009 - Hall Road Rangers (h) - W3-0
Semi-Final - 16th Apr 2009 - Mickleover Sports (a) - W5-1
Selby Town:
2nd Rd - 18th Nov 2008 - Barton Town Old Boys (a) - W1-0
3rd Rd - 24th Feb 2009 - Nostell Miners Welfare (h) - W3-2
4th Rd - 24th Mar 2009 - Hallam (h) - W4-1
Semi-Final - 29th Apr 2009 - Winterton Rangers (a) - W4-3aet