Lurchy’s tips

Happy Friday everyone and welcome to another edition of Lurchy’s tips. With another week of defeat firmly behind me I head into this weekend’s fixtures full of optimism and expectation.

Refusing to dwell on last weekend I fix my focus straight on Welton’s crunch County Cup quarter-final clash with Scunthorpe-based Queen Bess on Sunday.

It has been dubbed around north Lincoln as Welton’s biggest game since the club was formed, and with a place in the last four of the Sunday League's Champions League at stake, there are plenty of reasons to have a flutter on this mouth-watering showpiece.

Both sides enter into the unknown on Sunday having never faced each other in the combined 112-year history of the two clubs.

Queen Bess currently sit sixth in the Fallen Hero Scunthorpe League having played six, won four, and lost two. Leading their hopes of another away success in the County Cup will be Bess hitman Tom Finnigan. The potent frontman has built up a reputation for clinical finishing across North Lincolnshire and has already surpassed the 15-goal mark this term.

However, with a defence as brittle as Amir Khan's chin, the Bess boys are well-know for their inability to keep clean sheets so this could make for a fascinating battle. Welton, who are also better know for their attacking qualities, are expected to renew their newly-adopted 4-4-2 formation this weekend and are boosted by a squad missing just one regular name.

Creative midfielder Sam Gordon once again misses out through work commitments, however former Lincoln City ace Tom Wilkinson returns from a hamstring injury and is expected to start. Jaz Dhindsa is also back in the squad after missing last week’s win at Jeruslalem, but the Reepham Toft resident will do well to replace Will Carter at full-back after the Nook Farm resident put in an admirable shift during the crucial away win.

James Drabble, who was once again inexplicably named on the bench at Jerusalem, is pushing for a recall however brother Joe has failed to make the squad despite being called back from his loan spell earlier in the week.

Lurchy’s tip: James Drabble first goalscorer 6/1

Lurchy’s donut: Tom Finnigan hat-trick 66/1

Lurchy's outsider: Will Carter to score at any time 50/1

This weekend’s professional fixtures look tough ones to call, however, after a quick look at the form, here are a few worth considering.

Lurchy’s hat-trick: Man City, Leeds, Lincoln – 9/1

Lurchy’s acca: Bristol City, Burnley, Ipswich, Oldham, Wycombe, Cowdenbeath – 25/1.