COME Sunday afternoon, the finalists of this season’s Westernsport Trophies-sponsored WG Parr Trophy will have been decided.
We are down to the final four teams from the 26 that started out in the competition back in September and on paper it looks as if this year’s final should be a classic regardless which of the four remaining teams are left to fight it out in April’s final.
Premier Division Castle FC are red hot favourites to win the competition but they wont have everything their own way when they visit Division Three high-flyers Sportzcoach Dragonz United, who after disposing of highly-rated Staverton in the preliminary round, fierce rivals Melksham Cosmos in round one and then Division One Somerford in the quarter-finals, will fancy their chances of causing another upset.
Castle, who are still vying for silverware on three fronts, began their campaign with a bye, they then beat local rivals Kings Arms (All Cannings) to set up a quarter-final clash with Division One leaders Prestige Bodyworks, who they blew away 8-1.
Castle have been brilliant so far this season and currently have a nine point lead in the top fight, and the form-book suggests that it will be Tom Perkins' side who will book their place in the final.
The other semi-final, which is also scheduled to take place at Stanley Park, brings together second division Sutton Benger and third division Pig & Whistle United.
Of the two sides, Pig & Whistle may be slight underdogs but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Richard Allen’s side, who have hit top form in recent weeks, came up trumps to make the last two.
Of the four remaining sides, Pig's route to the this stage has been the easiest as after receiving a preliminary round bye and then a walkover in the first round, they then had to come from 2-0 down to Worton & Cheverell (Sunday) 4-2.
Mark Merriman’s Benger kicked off their cup run with a 6-1 victory over Crossblades, which was followed by a win over near neighbours Christian Malford, who they beat on penalties.
Benger then saw off another of their local rivals in Chippenham West End to have a stab of making their first ever Parr Trophy final.
What should be a closely fought contest may need to go the distance to find a winner and although they are eight places below Benger in the league standings, it is Melksham-based Pig who are being tipped for glory.
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