Chorley ready for last 16 knockout match (From Chorley Citizen)

Chorley ready for last 16 knockout match

10:20am Saturday 7th July 2012 in Sport

WINDSOR Park plays host to its biggest knockout game since the mid-1990s when Andy Holdsworth’s Chorley side take on Cuckney in the regional final on the National Knockout tomorrow.

Chorley have reached the last 16 of the competition, now known as the Kingfisher Beer Cup, for the first time since 1996.

In that year, Roland Horridge’s team reached their third successive final, losing to Walsall after triumphing at Lord in the two previous years against Ealing and Clifton Flax Bourton.

In this season’s competition, Chorley had a bye in the first round before seeing of the challenges of Central Lancs League side Clifton and Leyland before winning the regional semi-final against fellow Northern league outfit Blackpool at Stanley Park.

Jack Benson and Jack Catterall are expected to return to the side, Catterall replacing Michael Critchley, the last remaining member of the squad from the 1996 final, who is unavailable.

Cuckney is a tiny village of just 200 residents mid-way between Worksop and Mansfield and have had a cricket team since the 19th century club in the Bassetlaw League.

They reached the regional final of the National Village knockout on two occasions during 1970s.

In last 15 years they have developed an indoor cricket centre which has coincided with a rapid rise through the league ranks culminating in promotion to the Nottingham Premier League.