DAVID is out to topple Goliath in tomorrow's Ramsbottom Cup final.

Minnows Settle - this season's dark horses of the Jennings Ribblesdale League - meet giants Cherry Tree at Read, looking to win the competition for the first time since 1970.

Andrew Davidson, captain at Settle, knows it will be a big ask but thinks his side can pull off a shock.

"Somebody would have a heart attack over here if we won," he joked. "I think we are very determined, though. For us to win anything up here would be amazing.

"We just don't have the population like Blackburn does to sustain a good side all the time. They have about 100,000 people there and we have about 3,000.

"They have loads of schools to pick young players up from, we have one.

"We can't pay our pro a lot, in fact we struggle to pay a pro, whereas I think Cherry Tree can pay their pro quite a bit.

"They have a Test player playing for them, we have a good league player."

So the scene is set for a potential giant-slaying - with the weather, which has hampered most teams' progress this summer, set to play an important part.

"The soft wickets have been more to our advantage this season," said Davidson. "We are very tight with the bowling, we don't give much away. Teams have struggled to score runs against us but we can bat a bit, too.

"The team that bats first usually gets the best of the wicket and the conditions so we don't know what our strategy will be as to whether to bat or bowl first.

"We batted first against Edenfield but second against Padiham and Great Harwood on our way to the final so we'll have to wait and see what we'll do tomorrow.

"But I know there will be about 300 coming to watch - and that is a lot from our town - it is what everyone is talking about in the pubs round here."

Davidson, who takes up a new position as Assistant Headteacher at Rhyddings High in Oswaldtwistle next month, has been the captain at Settle on and off for eight years. He took a five-year break when his four sons were young and has now been back for two years.

But at 43 and about to embark on a new job, who is thinking of jacking it all in again.

"I struggled last year, teaching, doing some work for the LEA and captaining the cricket team as well.

"So I am considering giving it up again, although I haven't decided for definite yet."

So the final tomorrow could be his swansong - but he says win or lose it won't affect his decision.

"Winning the cup or not won't help me decide either way. We have got some young lads coming through and it is time for them to take some responsibility."

A win in the cup would round off a good season for fifth-in-the-league Settle, who were widely regarded as strugglers before this year.

Davidson puts the improvement down in part to the return of former Lancashire player Paul Ridgeway.

"He played some first class games for Lancs and a lot of Second XI matches but his contract was terminated because of a back problem.

"He hasn't played for the last three or four games but says he is fit for tomorrow.

"He has bowled really well this year and batted sensibly when needed.

"Stewart Hornby has performed well with bat and ball and they have spear-headed the attack.

"We haven't taken anyone apart with the bat this season but we are capable."

THE game starts at 1pm.