They had two important games and by chance, both were against close rivals, Old York.

On Saturday it was a crucial league fixture and despite the 5-2 scoreline in favour of Pelican, it was a hard fought match.

Striker Darren Mee put Pelican in front on 17 minutes, but within three minutes Old York hit back with a snap shot on the turn by Dave Latouche.

With the score locked at 1-1 in the second half, Latouche was clear on goal in the 54th minute, but a fabulous save at his fee by Pelican keeper Ron Dunn denied Old York a second goal.

In the 63rd minute Pelican got their noses in front when Mee struck again, rounding the keeper to tap home.

Substitute Steve Bennett celebrated this return to action with a close range goal following a corner in the 72nd minute and at 3-1 down, Old York began to fade.

However there were three more goals inside the final five minutes as Rick Mesquita hammered home a far post ball to make it 4-1, followed by a consolation for Old York slotted home by Abdul Hassan.

Last word went to Nicky Plant of Pelican who found space at the far post to make it 5-2 in the dying seconds. This result leaves Pelican requiring six points from the last five games to retain their Altrincham Saturday League title.

On Easter Monday the two met again in the league cup semi-final and Old York once again gave Pelican a hard game.

After 20 minutes of nip and tuck football, Old York went 1-0 with a bizarre goal. They were attacking and as the ball was pumped forward there appeared to be a clear offside.

The whistle blew, both sides stopped and Pelican keeper Dunn tapped the ball forward to take the free kick.

However, the referee waved play-on as it was the whistle on the next pitch that had been heard.

Dave Latouche reacted quickest and prodded the loose ball into the open net. Pelican's equaliser on 38 minutes was equally fortuitous as a curling cross from Nick plant deceived the York defence and a desperate header resulted in an own goal.

On the brink of half time Gary Royle put Darren Mee clear and in a replay of Saturday's action he rounded the keeper to put Pelican 2-1 up.

The game was still in the balance and on the hour mark Old York were level again as the ball was laid back to Steve Moore on the edge of the box and his tremendous shot whistled into the top corner. However, cometh the hour, cometh the man, and on 73 minutes, second half substitute Paul Lowe celebrated his return from a two week ban by breaking clear on the left before cutting into the area and curling a low shot round the advancing keeper to make the final score 3-2.

This was a pulsating semi-final played in a great spirit and it was a shame there had to be a loser. However, it is Pelican who go on to meet Finbar Macs in the final as they try to retain their League Challenge Cup trophy at a time and place to be decided.

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