BACUP Borough boss Brent Peters will lead his side into their third cup final in a dozen years next month – and he couldn’t be happier.

Bacup overturned a one-goal deficit from the first leg of their North West Counties League Challenge Cup semi-final against Barnoldswick Town and with a well organised performance at the Silentnight Stadium to win 2-0 and book their place in the showpiece.

In that final they will play either Norton or Maine Road at the Tameside Stadium home of Curzon Ashton – and Peters is already turning his eye towards the game.

“While the win at Barnoldswick was a big victory for us, we have won nothing yet,” declared the manager.

“We need to show the same focus, mindset and application in the final otherwise all the hard work at Barnoldswick and that terrific victory will count for nothing.

“But full credit to our boys, midweek games are never the best in terms of preparation.”

With that time scale in mind, Peters broke with his usual tradition and decided to name his starting line-up and formation a day before the second leg – and he had to let his fingers do the walking as he hit the telephone to get his message through to his men.

He added: “I decided to inform individuals 24 hours earlier than normal the team and with the shape we wanted them to adopt against Barnoldswick.

“The shape we adopted was not one we have been able to work with the boys on, so I had to discuss this with most over the telephone in order for them to have had enough time to get it into their mindset. It wouldn’t have worked an hour before kick off.

“Every one of them took their instructions on board and played the system to perfection. It was a truly professional team effort from each and every one of us.

“I am convinced that giving the boys that extra time with everything connected to preparing for the game was the catalyst in how well they performed.

“It is unusual for every single player to perform at an acceptable level but in the semi final every single player played their part.”

The cup final will be a fitting end to a tough season for Borough. The winter wipeout hit them more than most and they still have six league games to fit in, the latest of which comes tonight when they welcome Winsford United to West View.

Their latest match was on Monday when they claimed a 3-2 home win over St Helens Town.

Adam Dale and Adrian Bellamy put them 2-0 up and, although Andy Olsen made it 2-2 with a double before the interval, Matthew Maine bagged the winner six minutes from time.