LADYBRIDGE Girls are hoping to make it third time lucky when they take on Manchester Girls in the Challenge Cup final this weekend.

The under-18s team, who are based at Ladybridge High School, have enjoyed another successful season but have twice been pipped to honours by Manchester City.

Ladybridge finished runners up behind City in the Greater Manchester Women’s Under-18s League and lost 5-1 against them in the League Cup final last weekend.

The Bolton side relinquished the League Cup title they won last season but only after a battling display.

Alicia Pryszieniak performed heroics in the Ladybridge goal and was only beaten once in the opening 45 minutes when a shot from the edge of the box skipped up off the surface.

Ladybridge did not concede a second goal until the 65th minute but were picked off after centre-half Natassia Dacre limped off.

They did have the final word, however, when Kaitland Harter slammed in a consolation goal.

Defeat to City is nothing to be ashamed of, with the club’s senior side competing in the Women’s Premier League.

Their appearance in the Greater Manchester League has skewed the competition somewhat – City finished with a goal difference of +112 – but Ladybridge have been the best of the rest. And they are aiming to go out on a high in what will be the team’s last match at youth level before stepping up to open age.

The Challenge Cup final against Manchester Girls, who finished third in the league, one point behind Ladybridge, will be played at The Lancaster Club in Chadderton on Sunday, kick off 11pm.