Bamber Bridge 0 Lancaster City 1

Colwyn Bay 1 Lancaster City 2

THEY may not be facing local rivals Morecambe, but Lancaster City will still be eagerly anticipating their first Marsden Lancashire Trophy final in 25 years.

A Paul Haddow strike saw City through at Bamber Bridge, maintaining City's recent dominance over their local rivals, but Morecambe fell to Mark Wright's Southport, 3-1 at Christie Park.

So City are to face the high-flying Conference side in their first final in the competition since 1975.

Manager Tony Hesketh said: "I'm very disappointed we're not playing Morecambe, but we are looking forward to the game with great excitement."

Chris Ward was missing for both Tuesday's semi-final and the victory at Colwyn Bay at the weekend.

It was suggested that the striker had been offered an extended trial spell at Notts County but club secretary, Mike Sparks, confirmed that he had in fact suffered a slight ankle injury.

And Hesketh thinks it is unlikely that Ward will be leaving the Axe on today's transfer deadline.

"We've had more interest in Chris, but no offers," explained Hesketh: "I'm amazed, really, that someone hasn't come in and snapped him up. Its not like we're holding out for a silly sum of money."

City have also ruled out any incoming transfers, and will instead looking forward to the return of injured players Mark Cheal, Farrell Kilbane and Jimmy Graham.

Despite his absence, City extended their winning streak to six, showing that they are by no means a one-man team.

The achievement was all the more remarkable, given the loss of keeper Mark Thornley after barely half an hour.

Although Bishop Auckland had regained third after a mid-week win prior to Saturday's win in North Wales, City consolidated their position in fourth ahead of Worksop.

City are, therefore still in sight of Hesketh's target of a top six finish, and look set to progress on last season's sixth place.

Second half strikes from Colin Potts and Brian Welch put City ahead but it was not quite plain sailing after that.

Dean Williams pulled one back before the Bay hit both the bar and a post but City hung on to seal victories over both the bottom two within five days.

The venue for the Marsden trophy final is yet to be decided, though the traditional venues for the final, stadiums like Deepdale and Ewood Park, look set to be ruled out on cash grounds. Christie Park is a possible venue for the big match.