NEIL Spencer gave up sunny Cyprus and £170 to help Clitheroe's FA Vase charge.

The striker had arranged to lap up the sun in the Mediterranean for a week after the Blues' FA Vase last 16 clash with Rushall Olympic.

But the game was postponed and rearranged for the following Saturday and so dedicated Spencer jetted out on Sunday -- and paid for an early flight back on Friday to turn out for the NWCL Division One side.

It was worth it as Clitheroe won -- and now they travel to Chippenham Town tomorrow as they bid for a semi-final spot.

"It wasn't a good holiday anyway except the sun!" said the 19-goal hitman. "It was dead. But I wouldn't have missed the game for anything.

"I got some mickey taking off my team-mates, calling me 'teacher's pet' and all that when I got back but we progressed and so it was soon forgotten."

Clitheroe, Vase finalists in 1996, are well and truly wound up for the game against the Screwfix League promotion-chasers -- thanks to the Chippenham fans.

"They've been sending messages to our web-site, making comments like 'we're going to hammer you' and 'there'll be 2,000 Town fans against you', so that's more than enough to get us going."

And the 25-year-old is looking to his strike partnership with 23-goal Lee Cryer to produce the goods -- although Cryer is a doubt with a hamstring strain.

"We won in the league without him on Saturday, scoring four, although it would be good to have him up front with me. He can make a goal from nothing."

For Spencer, this is the biggest game of his career although he has fond memories of playing for Bamber Bridge in the second round of the FA Cup last year, a game they lost 1-0.

"But this is more important as we were never going to win the FA Cup, we can win the Vase," he said.

Spencer was with Bamber Bridge from the age of 14 up until last season when he then came on loan to Shawbridge before signing permanently.

He did also have chances to try and make it as a professional -- he was offered a contract at Preston North End, playing in the A team and reserves -- but he decided to get some qualifications first.

He has 4 'A' levels, and studied Accountancy at university and now works as an accountant in Chorley.

"Sometimes I regret not giving a professional career a go but I know a lot of my friends who did and now have nothing to fall back on. I'm happy I did it my way."

And he'll be happier come 5pm tomorrow if Clitheroe have clinched a coveted last four spot.

"We really want to get there. We've got great team spirit here, it's carried us through some of the rounds and we know we can beat them."

Manager Dave Burgess, in his first season in charge, cites this as 'the biggest game' he has been involved in but isn't looking too far forward as he contends with some injury worries.

Cryer is one, he's 50-50, while Martin Aspinwall (knee) and Carl Greenwood (knee) are other doubts.

And he had another blow when he made a 500-mile round trip to see Chippenham in action against Bridgewater midweek -- only for the game to be called off at 5.30pm.

"I was a bit mad! But I was more disappointed as I hadn't seen them play," said the Blues chief.

"I know they've only lost two games all season, but we've only lost two on our travels. We're good travellers and we're looking to carry it on!"