SIX schools are lined up and raring to go for the three 2008 Bassetlaw Cup finals.
North Leverton, Small Schools County Champions and Small Cup winners for the last three years, got the shock of their lives when they trailed 2-0 at half-time to an enthusiastic and talented Gamston, but clawed their way back into the game with matur
e and patient football and goals from Owen Gamble (2) and Connor Payne.
North Leverton's Small Schools Cup final opponents will be Everton, single-goal winners over Dunham-on-Trent, that goal coming courtesy of Tom Robbins.
The two teams met each other in the finals of 2003, 2005 and 2006 with North Leverton emerging as comfortable winners on each occasion.
This year, however, Leverton have a very young side while Everton manager, Richard Browne, has put together what is probably the strongest team they have ever had and a close contest is in prospect.
Two new teams will appear in the Middle Divisions Cup when Holy Family of Worksop and St Joseph's of Retford contest an all-Catholic School final.
Holy Family have played very little football this season but earned their place in the final when a Josh Killoran double strike was too much for Clarborough, whose single reply came from Toby Rutherford.
St Joseph's were eventually too strong for Haggonfields and despite two goals by Ted Wilkinson, won 4-2 with Jordan Harrison and Aidan Rea claiming two each.
The Parry Cup, Bassetlaw's oldest knockout competition, will be contested by St Augustine's, runners-up in this season's Division One, and St Anne's, reigning Champion of Champions and last year's joint cup winners.
St Anne's have once again swept all before them this season but St Augustine's have improved match by match as the season has progressed and will be determined to avenge last year's Champion of Champions final defeat.
In the semi-finals St Anne's travelled to Ordsall and triumphed 4-1 thanks to goals from Alex Menzhausen (2), Jacob McKay and Connor Stansbury.
St Augustine's overcame last year's joint-winners, St John's.
Connor Thackery scored for St John's but in a game dominated by St Augustine's, James Haslehurst (2) and Thomas Rix were both on the scoresheet in a 3-1 victory.
The full article contains 382 words and appears in Retford Trader & Guardian newspaper.