THE semi-finals of the Ascot Hotel Junior Cup take centre-stage this Saturday with the competition’s last four - Police, St Mary’s, Peel and St George’s - vying for a place in combination football’s end-of-season showpiece finale.
With Canada Life Combination One champions and pre-tournament favourites Douglas High School Old Boys falling at Sunday’s quarter-final stage, all four sides will feel they have a shot at lifting the trophy at the Bowl on May 13.
Surprise semi-finalists Police host St Mary’s in a south Douglas derby of sorts at Springfield Road. The Constabulary side from Combination Two would probably have got long odds on claiming a semi-final berth at the competition’s onset, but after a bye in the first round have defeated Pulrose and Onchan - the latter an impressive 0-7 last weekend.
Karl Breadner and Leon Dawson were the hereos on that occasion bagging hat-tricks and their firepower will be crucial to the Combi Two side’s chances of upsetting a handy looking St Mary’s side.
The Saints have beaten Rushen, Douglas Royal and most notably Old Boys to get this far and must be strong contenders to lift the overall crown. St Mary’s midfield unit of JJ Balanda, Jay Corkill, Stuart Pacey and Nathan Halsall all impressed in their first-round win over Rushen and they should prove the difference between the two sides.
Out west there’s a tasty looking encounter on the cards as Peel take on holders St George’s at Douglas Road. The westerners look set to finish the Combi One season in second after stringing together a fine end-of-season run that has seen them go 13 matches unbeaten in cup and league.
Steve Corkill’s side seem to come of age over recent months with talented youngsters Louie Parmar, Daniel Pickering and Alex Holden all finding the back of the net. Add to the aforementioned precocious talents the likes of prolific captain Gary Smith, Neil Birchenough and Tony Duggan and you have a potent mix that should be a match for anyone.
Geordies, however, won’t be turning up in the Sunset City just to make up the numbers and are more than capable of reaching a second successive final. After a indifferent league campaign that finished with an eighth-place finish, the Glencrutchery Road side have found their form in this competition negotiating tricky ties at St John’s, Combi Two champions Marown and 2006 winners Laxey to set up this weekend’s match.
Goalkeeper David Cherry has tasted first-team action this season and in front of him Ashley Higginbotham, Stuart Morris and teenage winger Connor Dempsey have impressed during the side’s cup run. That’s without mentioning current Player of the Year Neil Brogan who is continuing his return to full fitness after breaking his leg in the Autumn.
Whether the presence of the island midfielder will be enough to deny the in-form westerners remains to be seen, but either way this should be a cracker. Both ties kick-off at the earlier time of 1.30pm.