BARNOLDSWICK Town boss Danny Craig knows his players must be mentally and physically ready as they prepare for what he has dubbed their biggest game of the season tonight.

Barlick are on the road at Bootle in the second leg of the Macron Cup semi-final defending a slender 1-0 advantage given to them by a last minute John Beckwith strike seven days ago.

The clash will be the third meeting of the two teams within a week after Tuesday's Hallmark Security League Premier Division clash at the Delta Taxi Stadium which the home side won 6-1.

But Craig is refusing to be too downhearted by that defeat, which saw title-chasing Bootle saw three times in five minutes either side of the interval and twice more in the closing stages, and instead the Barlick boss wants his side to view that game as the perfect preparation for tonight's tie.

He said: "It is not often you can replicate the exact situation you will face in a cup tie two days before the game but that is what we were able to do on Tuesday.

"We were able to see everything from getting to the ground, to the pitch and the opposition, and to what the fans are like two days before the second leg.

"The result was not what we wanted but we have given ourselves a great chance with the result in the first leg.

"It is the biggest game of the season for us and if we are prepared mentally and physically then we can get the result we need."

Craig rested a couple of players for Tuesday's league loss and is hopeful of being able to call on a near fully-fit squad for tonight's repeat trip which comes in the middle of a congested run of fixtures for Barlick.

But despite the punishing schedule the Silentnight Stadium boss believes his side can complete the job on Merseyside.

He added: "We are not too disheartened by Tuesday night, we were the better team from minute 15 to minute 44 and then the game got away from us.

"But we have already proved we can beat them and we know we will get a chance.

"It will be a tough game as Bootle are a good side with some good players but we have been in good form recently and if we can keep it tight and play the game not the occasion then there is no reason why we cannot be sitting here with a cup final to look forward to."

If the scores are level after 90 minutes then there will be extra time with away goals only coming into play at the end of that 30 minute period. If the scores are still level then there will be penalties.

Elsewhere on Tuesday night Clitheroe moved to within two points of a play-off place in the Evo-Stik League First Division North after a vital 3-1 home win over Bamber Bridge.

Alex Newby struck a hat-trick to lift Simon Haworth's side to eighth in the table as they chase down a top five spot heading into the final three games.

The Blues entertain struggling Ossett Albion on Saturday knowing three points at Shawbridge will set up what promises to be a cracking derby at fellow play-off contenders Colne, currently in third, on East Monday. Clitheroe then close the season at home to Brighouse Town on Saturday week.