JASON Jones is hoping his Clitheroe team-mates make sure he is in the mood for celebrating this weekend.

The left-sided midfielder will celebrate his 21st birthday on Saturday night but to make sure it is a proper party night, he needs to help the Blues to an FA Vase last 16 victory at Ryman Second Division League high fliers Arlesey Town from Bedfordshire.

"A few of my mates are coming to watch and we are going out afterwards so we have to make sure there is plenty to celebrate," said Jones. "We are rooting to win it."

Clitheroe have had to do it the hard way this season, beating NWCL Division Two side Nelson in a replay before long trips to Cogenhoe, where they won 5-1 and Abingdon, where they recorded a 3-0 win.

With a rich history in the competition - a Vase final appearance in 1996 followed by a quarter-final show and last season's semi-final charge - Clitheroe will be the favourites to win against the side who are something of an unknown quantity.

But player-manager Lee Sculpher knows they can't take anything for granted.

"Arlesey are in the last 16 of the Vase so they are a quality side. They are fifth in their League and have moved up the table in recent weeks," said Sculpher, whose side will be playing their first game since their Abingdon win.

"We will have to watch out for their pacey forward Bruce Dellar. He is their dangerman. He scored when they knocked out St Helens in the last round and the St Helens boss has told me all about them."

Sculpher has passed the information onto his side and Jones says they won't need winding up.

"We had a talk about them on Tuesday night and in their local paper their manager has been saying they will beat us," said the Blackburn-born player.

"We will be reminded of this just before the game so we won't need any geeing up."

For Jones it is a great occasion having broken into the first team on a regular basis this season. He has been at Shawbridge for four years, having spent four months on trial at Oldham Athletic and then having a short spell at Morecambe before that.

But travel put paid to his time at the Conference club as he chose to learn his trade as a welder.

He joined Clitheroe at 16 under then boss Denis Underwood but it was last season's gaffer Dave Burgess who really brought him to the fore.

"Diddy told me all along that he wanted me to play in the first team and that I had a big part to play."

And he has played his part especially helping them reach the Vase semi-final last season, which was ended by Taunton in spectacular fashion - a 5-0 hammering in Devon was followed by a Clitheroe revival in the second leg with three early goals before they eventually succumbed to defeat.

"I remember scoring a goal against Chippenham in the early rounds. We broke on the counter attack and I struck the ball from the edge of the box and it hit the back of the net. We won 2-0 and it was great!

"But in the first leg in the semi-final, losing 5-0 was devastating. They got one and then it was mayhem.

"In the second leg I was on the bench and when we scored three early goals I was like Alex Ferguson. I was up and down, I was on my knees, and I was on the pitch.

"I felt everything but it wasn't to be so we want to make sure we do it this year."

Clitheroe will be without injured Adam Gardner but could have former skipper Gary Rishton among their number. He has been signed as cover from UniBond side Rossendale but it does depend if Dale manager Jim McCluskie needs him.