The semi-finals of the Bolton Hospital Cup kick off tonight with Daisy Hill facing Eagley in the first at Crilly Park, home of Atherton LR (7.30pm).

Daisy will start as favourites to progress against opponents from two leagues below, but they will be without their player/assistant manager Tom Brown due to a family bereavement, and captain Jake O’Brien says that will give his side some extra motivation.

“We are like one big family at the club, and we hear news like this, it affects us all,” said the Daisy skipper.

“We are all thinking about Tom and his family at this time, and the best thing that we can do as players to show our support for him is to go out and win the game”.

However, O’Brien is well aware of the threat posed by an Eagley side who finished their season as champions of the West Lancashire League First Division.

“Eagley will come into the game full confidence and with a good team spirit. They have had a good season, and have some good players who we know well”, said O’Brien. “We know that teams will always raise their game in cup matches, and although Eagley are a couple of leagues below us, we know they will come into the game really fancying it.

“We lost in a semi-final last week against Garswood United (in the Atherton Charity Cup) and we need to use that as extra motivation to put it right this time.

“The Bolton Hospital Cup is a great competition, and we have been giving it the respect it deserves. We have had a mixed season, so to finish it by reaching a final would be great for the club.

“It’s a game to look forward to and we are ready for it.”