Bishop’s Cleeve will be hoping to make it three wins out of three in the group stages of the Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup, as they travel to Lydney Town on Tuesday evening.
The Mitres defeated Tuffley Rovers (0-4) and Longlevens (4-1) in the two previous games in the all-Gloucestershire Group 1 to propel themselves to the top of the group, ahead of their match against fellow Hellenic Premier Division side Lydney on Tuesday.
The cup was formulated as a result of the FA’s decision to null and void all non-league divisions from step 2 downwards, in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
44 teams are currently competing in the competition which started on April 13 and each team will play each other twice in the group stages before progressing into the knockout rounds.
Before the season was cut short, Bishop’s Cleeve accumulated 15 points after eight games and sat in fourth place in the Hellenic Premier Division table. The other clubs in their group; Longlevens (eighth), Lydney Town (13th) and Tuffley Rovers (16th) were all considerably lower down the table, placing Bishop’s Cleeve as the firm favourites to top the group ahead of their local rivals.
Manager Paul Collicutt will be hoping his side can continue their great form since the restart and come away with another victory from the Lydney Recreation Ground to establish themselves as the front runners of Group 1.
