KNOCKOUT CUP SEMI FINAL: This weekend will see the second of this season’s Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup semi-final ties with premier division giants Westbury Rangers A and Corsham Centre A going head to head at the Conigre, home of Melksham Town FC for a place in the final of the reebrooks-sponsored cup competition where they will face Pheasant FC.

Martin Bradfield’s Corsham Centre side have lifted the cup twice in the last four seasons and will start this game as favourites to defeat Shaun Gardiner’s Ranger’s side who have been beaten finalists in two of the last four finals and one of those was a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Centre and the other was a 1-0 loss in last terms finale when they were defeated by second division Crown Cosmos 1-0.

Rangers will be hoping that if they can overcome their old adversaries then at last they can end their 36-year wait to lift the knockout cup but with the Centre coming into a bit of form in recent weeks their job may be a little bit harder than it would have been earlier this year and their dreams of cup success may continue.

Westbury Rangers are still in with an outside chance of lifting the premier division title or even gaining second place due to the fact they have so many games in hand on most of the teams around them in the table, but they may see the knockout cup as their chance of winning anything this season, but there is no doubt that the Centre will be their toughest opponents to date.

Rangers began their cup run with a first round victory over top flight stable mates Holt who they beat 7-4, Marc Lanfear scored a hat trick, Tim Coombes, netted twice and Sam Gooding and Mark Young scored one each.

A Nick Mead goal earned Rangers victory over first division Carpenters Arms.

The third round saw them dispose of second division Audley FC who they beat 6-0, Matty Smith (two), Marc Lanfear, Ross Parker, Mark Young and Sam Tucker shared the goals that set up a quarter-final showdown with premier division rivals Maud Heath Sports who they beat 7-6 after extra-time and penalties, and this was after Matty Smith hit two late goals for Rangers to level things up at two each and take the game added time and penalties where Nick Mead hit the winning penalty for Rangers.

Corsham Centre’s route to the semi-final stage was relatively easy until they reached the quarter-final stage.

The Centre began their cup run by beating second division Sutton Benger 12-2 Stuart Tutty top scored with a hat trick, Tom Lye and Tim Jefferies scored two apiece, Russell Gibbings, Craig Gingell, Simon Gray, James Lye and Ross Lye shared the others to make up the dozen Next up for the Centre were Bremhill View Social Club also from division two and although they put up more than a fight than Sutton Benger did they eventually lost 4-1 thanks to goals from Simon Gray (two), Dan king and Stuart Tutty.

A James Lye hat trick plus two goals each from Liam Ralph, Shane Godsell and Simon Gray plus a Dan king effort saw the Centre hammer first division Rowde 10-0 to set up a quarter-final meeting with fourth division North Star B.

The Centre had to call on all of their experience as they came from 4-1 down to level at 4-4 in normal time before hitting four extra time goals to run out 8-4 victors in a game that they were lucky to win.

James Lye was again top scorer with three, Tim Jefferies and Russell Gibbings each scored a brace and Stuart Tutty completed the eight to give them a place in the final four.

The match that kicks off at 10.45 should produce another thrilling contest between two evenly matches sides and could go either way.

Like last weeks semi-final between Hullavington and the Pheasant there are so many good players on show and unlike last weeks game if this one lives up to all expectations it should be a classic and might even go the distance before a winner is found.