The Youth Team takes on Blackburn Rovers in the final of the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup tonight (Tuesday) as the young Whites look to win the competition for the first time in 35 years, writes Pete Oliver.
Julian Darby’s side booked its place in the final at the county FA headquarters at Leyland by beating Blackpool and Morecambe from the last eight onwards.
And they will now be looking to try and upset a Rovers side which plays in the northern section of the U18 Premier League to lift the cup for the fifth time.
“We didn’t show our true selves against Derby in the FA Youth Cup, but this will be a great experience for the lads playing against a Category One Academy again on a good ground in a final,” said U18’s boss Darby.
“I've said to them just go and enjoy yourselves, don't fear anyone go and have a right good go and let's see what happens.”
Wanderers have enjoyed a decent season to overcome a number of long-term injuries to key players and are currently sitting third in Group B of the EFL Youth Alliance.
The Whites beat Port Vale 3-1 last Saturday with goals from Daeshon Lawrence, David Abimbola and Corey Nuttall and now go hunting a piece of silverware against a Blackburn side which defeated Derby 4-1 at the weekend and got past Accrington Stanley and Burnley to reach tonight’s final under former Preston defender Ryan Kidd.
“We had a good start to the season and then started to pick up injuries, which weren’t little one and two-week things,” added Darby (above).
“It's just been one thing after another but the boys who have come in - the first-years and U17s – we’ve seen them progressing.
“They have probably played more football than they thought they were going to but the results and performances since Christmas have shown they're getting better and really improving.
“To be fair they have stood up had been counted for the past two or three months. They have done well and it will be a good test for us against a strong Blackburn team.”
Tuesday night’s final kicks-off at 7.30pm with spectators welcome. Admission is £6 adults and £3 concessions with cash only at the gate.
We will have regular up-dates as the action unfolds on Twitter via @BWFCBandAcademy