DELIGHTED Church skipper Craig Fergusson says he wants his men to keep their focus on their upcoming Lancashire League games rather than getting carried away ahead of their Worsley Cup final with Ramsbottom.

Church excelled on Sunday as they beat much fancied Nelson convincingly to book their place in the showpiece against Ramsbottom - and the excitement around the club only increased when they landed the home draw for the August 7 blockbuster.

But Fergusson still wants Church to keep their focus on the games between now and the final – and wants a win at Haslingden on Sunday as the league campaign reaches the halfway stage this weekend.

“That will be the tone of what’s said in the dressing room at Haslingden,” Fergusson said. “I want us to kick on in the league and become more consistent.

“I said at the start of the season I thought we could challenge for something – and the final will be a tremendous day, especially being at home.”

Church last hosted the biggest game in the Lancashire League calendar in 1974 – and they lifted the trophy for the only time by beating Nelson on that day.

The Worsley Cup has not been kind to Church down the years and they have lost in the final four times, the last time being in 2002 when they were beaten by Ramsbottom in a game that ran into three days because of rain on the Sunday.

Fergusson, 29, missed the conclusion of that game as he was on holiday – and he is naturally hoping for a better result this time around.

“It is a repeat of 2002 but it’s at home and we are wanting to go one better,” he said.

“We beat Nelson very well on Sunday, it was a really good display from us with the ball, in the field and with the bat.

“To bowl them out as we did was excellent and then Adam Greenwood and Nasser Hussain batted really well.”

Greenwood was promoted up the order to number three and made 30 while Hussain’s 73 not out gave him man of the match honours.

“It was a really good knock from Nasser,” added the captain. “Tom Lord put him down on two. It was a really difficult chance - and he made them pay.

“That’s what he does. You can’t give him that chance. He has been really good ever since he got into the team last year.

“It was an excellent win and we can look forward to the final – but only after the league games.”