The climax to the local football season takes place at the Neuven Stadium in Radcliffe tonight, when CMB take on Eagley in the final of the Bolton Hospital Cup.

Both sides head into the game on the back of very successful seasons in the West Lancashire League, with Eagley lifting the Division One title with games to spare, and CMB came desperately close to finishing as champions of the Premier Division on the final day of the season last Saturday, only to be edged out in heartbreaking style by nearest rivals Thornton Cleveleys.

With CMB having won 2-1 at home to Wyre Villa, it took a controversial 96th-minute winner for Thornton Cleveleys to win 3-2 at Rossendale from a penalty awarded after an on-field scuffle - a victory which ensured they finished top of the table just one point ahead of the Lostock side.

Despite the disappointment, CMB manager Matt Taylor says the squad can be happy with their performances this season, and are now getting focussed on the final.

“Nobody can take away what we have achieved this season”, said the CMB boss.

“The amount of goals we have scored, and the points we have amassed is the most that has ever been collected in that league without winning, so it is unbelievable really not to win the league and we are very unlucky, but overall the season has been fabulous.

“We should be going into a cup final absolutely buzzing, but we were all gutted and have been licking our wounds a little.

“But we will be fine by Friday evening and we are very much looking forward to the game.

“The Hospital Cup final is one that everyone wants to play in. It’s at a good ground, with good hosts, and we tasted success in the final three years ago, so to go there again and win would be great.

“Eagley are a very good side who have done brilliantly this year, and it’s going to be a really good game. They will take a lot of beating.

“I think it will be very tough, a very close game and we will need to be at it on Friday”.

Eagley’s build-up to the game has been rather less frantic, and they have had over a week to prepare for the final since defeating Daisy Hill 4-0 in the semi-final last Wednesday.

Manager Neil Hart is optimistic his side can finish the season on a high by lifting the trophy, after their success in the league.

“I said to the players before the Daisy Hill game that it was a bonus game, as we have achieved everything we set out to achieve”, said Hart.

“Our target was to get promoted and we topped that by winning the league which was an incredible effort.

“So we’ve pulled that off and now we are in a cup final too, and I can’t praise the lads highly enough”.

Kick off at the Neuven Stadium is at 7.45 pm, and tickets can be purchased in advance via the Radcliffe FC website at radcliffefc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/bolton_hospital_cup_final_2024

Tickets are priced at £7 for adults and £3 for under-16s.

All proceeds raised from this year’s event will be donated to the competition’s charity partner, Backup North West, who offer support to young people aged 16-25 years old across Bolton who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness.