2007–08 Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy
The 2007-08 Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy (currently known known as the Cooperatives Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 119th since the competition's establishment in 1885. Twenty eight clubs entered the competition which is currently sponsored by Co-operative Group.
The winners of the trophy were Southport, the seventh time they had won the competition.
Competing clubs
A total of 28 clubs entered the competition from six different leagues. The four clubs from the Football Conference each received byes to the second round.
- Conference North (four clubs) - Barrow, Burscough, Leigh RMI and Southport
- Northern Premier League Premier Division (three clubs) - Fleetwood Town, Kendal Town and Marine
- Northern Premier League Division One North (seven clubs) - Bamber Bridge, Chorley, Clitheroe, Lancaster City, Radcliffe Borough, Rossendale United and Skelmersdale United
- North West Counties Football League First Division (seven clubs) - Atherton Collieries, Atherton Laburnum Rovers, Bacup Borough, Colne, Nelson, Ramsbottom United and Squires Gate
- North West Counties Football League Second Division (seven clubs) - Ashton Athletic, Blackpool Mechanics, Daisy Hill, Darwen, Holker Old Boys, Kirkham & Wesham, and Padiham.
Early rounds
The first round matches took place in early October with the highlight being North West Counties Football League First Division club Atherton Collieries comprehensively beating Marine who play two levels higher in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, 4-1. The second round also saw a shock win when Bacup Borough beat Barrow from three levels higher, 1-0 on 4 December 2007. By the semi-finals there were three Conference North clubs left together with Chorley from the Northern Premier League Division One North.
Final
The final was played at the Lancashire FA's headquarters, the Count Ground in Leyland on 2 April 2007 between Chorley (the most successful club in the competitions history with fourteen wins) and Southport, the most successful club of recent years. Southport emerged victorious, beating Chorley 4-1 in front of a crowd of 757. Defender Shaun Gray gave Southport the lead in the 18th minute. Mark Drew then equalised for Chorley within five minutes, but in the closing moments of the first half Southport scored twice to take a 3-1 lead into the interval. First in the 44th minute Michael Powell restored the Sandgrounders lead before Gray scored his second goal to give them a two goal advantage. Mark Duffy, who was later named Man-of-the-Match, added a fourth goal with an 87th minute penalty to ensure Southport won the trophy, the seventh time the club had won it.
Results
First round
Twenty four clubs entered the competition in the first round, with the other four clubs all receiving byes to the second round - Barrow, Burscough, Fleetwood Town and Southport.
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Second round
The twelve winners from the first round were joined by the four clubs who received byes through to the second round.
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Quarter-final
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Semi-final
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Final
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Source: http://www.lancashirefa.com/FixturesAndResults/CountyCups/Co-OperativesChallengeCup/?tab=fixtures
Final
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