KNOCKOUT CUP SEMI FINAL: This weekend will see the first of this season’s Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup semi-final ties when second division heavyweights Pheasant FC and Hullavington go head to head at the Conigre, home of Melksham Town FC for a place in the final of the reebrooks-sponsored cup competition.

When the teams met in the league a fortnight ago Chippenham based Pheasant won the appetiser to the main course 4-1 thanks to late goals from Dan Clements (two), Joe Forester and Tom Jones after Allan Webb had given Hullavington the lead.

Hullavington will start this game as underdogs but they will welcome back top scorer Ed Wilkins, Ben Wright and George Cotty all of whom missed the league battle but they will be without manager Matt Wilkins who is on holiday and goalkeeper Gary Waldron for what is one of the clubs biggest matches for many years.

Hullavington, know that in the league they have a tough job on their hands if they are to finish in the top two and will see the knockout cup as a competition they could actually win if they can reproduce the form that has already seen then dispose of three top flight sides and one of the leading first division outfits so they will be well up for the game as they bid to make Pheasant their fifth major scalp to date.

Matt Wilkins side began their amazing cup run wit ha first round victory over FC Colerne who they beat 6-3, Ed Wilkins and Jif Wilkins scored two apiece with Ben Wright and Mark Lane’s singles making up their half dozen.

Goals from Wright and Ed Wilkins earned them a second round victory over premiership side Semington Rovers in round two and when they were drawn against the much fancied Dog & Fox Ashley side also from the premier division most people thought that their cup run would be over, but that wasn’t the case as goals from Ed Wilkins, Mark Lane and Louis Slater sealed another famous win that set up a quarter-final showdown with first division high flyers Foresters Arms and after a thrilling encounter Hullavington emerged victorious as they clinched a 4-3 win.

Ed Wilkins top scored with a hat trick after Phil Garland had set them on their way.

Pheasant’s route to the semi-final stage was a little easier than their opponents and their manager Ollie Selman will be hoping that his side won’t think that because they have recently beat Hullavington in the league that their place in the final is as good as guaranteed because if they do they might just suffer their first loss of the campaign.

Pheasant began their cup run back in September by putting out first division side Bradford News who they beat 6-2, Liam Phillamore (two), Tom Jones, Luke Barrett, Alex Orledge and Joe Forester shared the goals.

Next up for Pheasant were Bremhill View Social Club also from division one, but despite falling two goals behind Pheasant hit back to win 4-2 thanks to goals from Dan Clements, Paul Poiner, Tom Jones and Jack Coathorpe. A Joe Forester hat trick and singles from Alex Orledge and Tom Jones gave Pheasant a 5-1 win over Atworth United in round three.

The second division side then completed a quartet of first division scalps when beat local rivals Chippenham Sports & Social Club 4-1 in the quarter-finals and this was after the Sports had booted cup favourites Biddestone Social out in the previous round.

Luke Barrett, Liam Phillamore, Coathorpe and Kane Kauppinen scored to give Pheasant their win and a place in the final four.

Despite, Pheasant having beaten Hullavington a couple of weeks ago this match that kicks off at 10.45 it too close too call. With so many good players on show and if the game lives up to all expectations it should be a classic and might even go the distance before a winner is found and on paper that should be Pheasant especially as Hullavington will be forced to use influential midfielder Jif Wilkins as a makeshift keeper in place of Gary Waldron but don’t bet against Hullavington pulling of another cup upset as they bid to set up a final meeting with either Westbury Rangers A or Corsham Centre A who are in action next week for a place in the final later in the season.