Whitchurch Alport completed their inaugural campaign in the North West Counties Premier Division at the weekend as Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Charnock Richard followed hot on the heels of a 1-0 defeat at 1874 Northwich.

Attention swiftly turns to Friday night’s Huddersfield Cup Final against Market Drayton Town who are managed by Martyn Davies.

Davies spent the briefest of periods as assistant to Luke Goddard at Yockings but made a quick return to Drayton with the club in freefall since he had been ousted there.

The game takes place at the New Bucks Head, the home of AFC Telford United and kicks off at 7.45pm and Goddard is not remotely interested in who might come out with the bragging rights.

He said: "This is only about Whitchurch Alport Football Club pitching themselves and testing themselves against a club from a higher division – nothing else.

"You can add to that the fact that the game is being played at a top-drawer stadium and is a major cup final with a fantastic prize at the end of it.”

Alport will be missing two key players for the trip to Telford. Skipper Darren Campion and midfielder Dylan Bath are both suspended having been sent off in Thursday’s narrow defeat against 1874 Northwich.

Goddard said the club are unlikely to appeal either of the red cards.

He added: “We have got the right to appeal but it’s expensive and I don’t think it would be a worthwhile exercise to pursue it any further.

"We have accepted that they will be banned and that’s really hard for Camps and Dylan, as both had been playing really well. Obviously, Camps will be gutted having played for Telford and missing out on the chance to captain his side in a major cup final.”

A win for the Reds would set up a meeting with Shrewsbury Town at the Montgomery Waters Meadow in the Shropshire Senior Cup Final and Goddard wants to land the Huddersfield Cup having accounted for a major scalp to get this far.

“By beating Telford United in the semi-final of this competition, we don’t want to undo that good work by losing in the final on Friday," he said.

"We won’t be thinking about Shrewsbury because our focus is totally on this one game and trying everything we can to bring the Huddersfield Cup back to Whitchurch for the first time ever. If we could do that then we’d have to class it as a very successful season.”

Goddard is pleading for as many people as possible to make the journey and give Alport a significant advantage in terms of numbers.

He said: “It’s fewer than 30 miles from Yockings to Telford and our support has been magnificent home and away all season.

"This is a hugely important match for the football club and our fans have a significant role to play if we are to be successful. I’d love to see all our flags out on display with balloons, drums and anything else anyone can think of to spur on our players.

"We will prepare them correctly but it would lift them enormously to come out of the tunnel and see all the red and white scarves and hats. I would urge everyone to try and wear something red and to try and sit together so all the noise comes from one end of the stadium. Drayton might play in a higher division but they have an average gate of half of ours, and I don’t think there would be much between the teams.

"Cup finals are by and large cagey affairs so it might not be a classic but our lads are champing at the bit for this one. Nerves may play a part which is only natural for a big game, but we have a lot of experienced heads in the team and some very talented youngsters who are unlikely to be fazed by a game like this. I hope we can all enjoy it and then be able to celebrate together."

Goddard added that his side will have learned a lot from their transitional season. He added: “We’ve had a season that’s been transitional for us.

“We’ve learned a lot and will benefit from having a year in the Premier Division which should stand us in good stead for the future. We landed back-to-back Ethelston Cups which was the first time that had been done for nearly 40 years and that was important to the club’s fans.

"To secure our Premier Division status with five games to spare, averaging 238 fans per home game and the potential to win two trophies would be a magnificent achievement for a relatively new group.”