Church skipper Craig Fergusson admitted he wants revenge after last season’s Twenty20 final defeat.

Church can reach the semi-finals of the quick-fire competition if they beat Accrington tonight after three wins in their three Group A games.

They lost to Ramsbottom in the final last year and the Church captain admitted: "It hurts to lose any game but especially a final.

"We have a plan for Twenty20 cricket and luckily we have executed it well and it has worked for us.

"It’s a competition we do take seriously. It was exciting playing in the final in front of a big crowd but this time we want to go one step further and win it."

Not that Church’s trophy hunt stops there as they are through to the last four of the Worsley Cup – a cup the Blackburn Road club last won in 1974.

They play Nelson at home in the semi-final on July 3, where their former paid man Luke Woodcock is pro.

"That’s a massive game for us," continued the captain.

"The last time we were in the final was at Ramsbottom in 2002 when it went on so long because of the weather – we kept having to come back night after night – that I was in Mauritius and missed the end of it!

"The semi-final is a huge game for the club and it’s home so we have to take advantage of that. If we can get to the final it will be a real achievement.

"And we know Woody will be up for it against us. In fact the first we knew about the draw was when he texted one of the lads to say it was Church v Nelson.

"He is still popular at our club so he will be welcomed back but hopefully he will be going back without a smile on his face."

And, while two trophies are in their sights, Fergusson is refusing to rule out a league challenge in a tightly knit title chase although he knows his side will have to up their game.

"We have been hit and miss in the league as we have lost four games, had one rained off and won three and we would have expected to do better.

"Of the four we have lost, they have been fine margins as we have always been involved in games and we just need to turn these into wins. We are not a million miles away.

"I believe we will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season and, if we win more than we lose by the end of the season, I will be happy.

"I don’t want to put pressure on the lads and make any predictions – I wouldn’t do that at the start of the season – but we know what we are capable of and hopefully we will play to our potential and keep challenging on all three fronts."

The big plus for Church is that, barring injury, they should have highly-rated paid man Saeed Anwar Junior for the full season.

Their signing of the Pakistan all-rounder caused many other Lancashire League clubs to tip Church to be dark horses for the league crown before the campaign began.

"He is a great pro, there is no doubt about it. As a team we have perhaps been underperforming in the league but he has done his job," said Fergusson.

"The reason we went for him is that we wanted a professional who could stay all season.

"We had Woody last season but he left us to go and play for New Zealand, which is good for him but wasn’t for us. So it was vital for us to have some stability throughout the full season.

"That was one of our main factors in choosing a pro and we have been really lucky with Saeed.

"He won the league title with Rishton (in 2007) so he knows how to win this league, he is brilliant around the club, he helps the amateur players and, if he keeps doing that and he continues to perform, then we won’t be far off."

It’s derby days all-round this weekend as, by a strange quirk, the games that were postponed on May 15 will take place tomorrow and then they are reversed on Sunday.

It means Church face bottom club Rishton, first away and then at home.

"It’s one of those games that we will be expected to win as Rishton haven’t yet won in the league," added Fergusson.

"But the good thing about this league is that any team can spring a surprise and we can’t go into any game expecting to win so we will be expecting a hard game.

"But for us, we are just pleased to still be in three competitions at this stage of the season.

"The league is the only disappointment but it’s our fault we have lost four games and it’s up to us to put it right. We need to get into the winning habit, to breed confidence and belief but it is all there for us at the moment."

ALL the games fell victim to the weather last Sunday and will be replayed on third fixed date Saturday 16 July.