MIDDLEWICH Town have an opportunity to win a trophy this month and Ross Speight, their co-manager, believes too long has passed since they lifted one.

The Witches take on Lostock Gralam in the Mid-Cheshire District FA Saturday Challenge Cup final on home turf on Tuesday, May 14, with eyes on a prize they haven’t claimed since 2012.

“We’re overdue,” he said.

“Going up last season was a great achievement, but we didn’t get any silverware for it.

“It would be huge for the lads to get a taste of success and to know what that feels like.

“In my experience, it can be a catalyst to go on and win other things.”

Town went down 2-1 at Congleton Vale in a Cheshire League fixture last time out, a result that halted a six-match sequence without defeat.

However they recovered to beat Broadheath Central, coincidentally a rival for Lostock in a race to be promoted from the second division, at the President’s Cup quarter-finals stage on Wednesday.

Chris Lunn, Callum Priestley, Dan Lomas and James Smith were on target in a 4-1 win that clinches a last-four date with neighbours Cuddington.

“We had a wake-up call [against Congleton],” added Speight.

“If we’d beaten them, then we’d perhaps have carried on doing what we were and just sleepwalked into the final.

“That’s been the story of our season; put together three or four good performances and then drop right off again. It's been quite frustrating.

“The cup games this week are important, and they’ll be tough.

“Both teams are play in the division below, and that puts a big target on our backs."

A head-to-head with the Grey Lambs, the holders following a victory against Barnton Wanderers in last year's edition, will be eagerly-anticipated following three close meetings between the teams in Cheshire League One last season.

They could not be separated in both league games, which ended 1-1, before Lostock prevailed after extra-time at the semi-finals stage of the Mid-Cheshire District FA Saturday Challenge Cup last March.

Speight said: "It's a final, and the form book goes out of the window.

"Lostock lost heavily in a league game in their previous game, but I don't expect that to affect them.

"They've been successful all season and have developed a winning habit while scoring plenty of goals.

"We have to be on point, and that means matching the effort they'll put in."

The decider was originally scheduled to take place at Barnton last Saturday but the contest fell victim to the weather.

Both teams have agreed to the new date and venue, with the final to kick-off at 7pm.

A penalty shoot-out will decide the result if the sides are level at full-time.