CLITHEROE keeper and Rovers fan Kris Richens hopes to see both his sides reach cup finals this season.

Rovers are on the verge of the Worthington Cup final with only a semi final second leg tie against Sheffield Wednesday standing between them and the Millennium Stadium.

And Clitheroe are hoping to reach a final of their own in the FA Vase, to be played again this year at Villa Park.

But while Rovers have just one match to play before their cup fate is decided Clitheroe have four matches to win as they aim to go one better than last season and reach the Vase final.

And the first of those four games is tomorrow at Isthmian League side Abingdon, who play in Oxfordshire.

"It would be great to win it and put the memories of not winning it last season behind us," said the 25-year-old, who was part of Dave Burgess's side last season that reached the semi-final only to be hammered 5-0 in the first leg, eventually losing 8-4 on aggregate.

"If it hadn't been for 20 minutes in the first half of the first leg at Taunton we'd have reached the final last season."

Clitheroe are fast-becoming one the teams to beat in the Vase, as recent history shows they are one of the strongest sides in the competition.

They reached the final at Wembley six years ago, the quarter finals in 1998 and the semis last season and are desperate to go one better this time.

"We are all looking forward to the game tomorrow," he said. "Everyone feels a bit different about Vase games and there is some pressure on us because it's Clitheroe."

Manager Lee Sculpher went down to watch Abingdon last week and has reported back to his squad. "He said they're a decent outfit but I think he would say that anyway," said Richens.

"We won't be taking them lightly anyway."

Clitheroe have only lost twice in the last 12 games but have slipped down the North West Counties first division to ninth after a series of draws.

But Richens thinks they can beat anybody on their day.

"We want to win promotion and that is still in our sights if we carry on playing the way we are at the moment.

"But the Vase is a welcome rest from the league. It is a chance to act like a pro for a change, travelling down on a Friday night and staying in a hotel. It really helps the team spirit as well and we have a good laugh.

"Everyone gets a bit more wound up for the Vase, playing a side from another league."

Richens, who played at Accrington Stanley before moving to Clitheroe three seasons ago, is virtually an ever-present, having missed just two games over the past three years.

"I love it at Clitheroe," said Richens, who works as an engineer at Presspart in Blackburn. "The fans are great and it's a great set of lads."

And if he had to choose between Rovers winning the Worthington Cup or Clitheroe winning the FA Vase it would a tough one.

"Can they not both win? If not, I'd want Clitheroe to win the Vase, of course. It's just a shame they don't play on different days and then I could go and watch Rovers more."