HOLDERS Askam go into tonight’s Barton Townley Cup Final at Craven Park as firm favourites to hold on to the trophy – but they are taking nothing for granted (7pm kick-off).

Opponents Barrow Island are making their first appearance in the showpiece final for seven years, and joint-coach Joe Elliott said: “They are obviously favourites, but this is a local derby and a cup final, and our guys will be up for it.

“This means a lot to us and we will be taking it seriously.”

Askam coach Mike Wilson agreed.

“We have picked up lately and our form has started to improve, but in a local derby form goes out of the window so we are looking forward to a very close game,” he said.

The final brings together the two best teams in the area, so a tight contest is likely.

Askam, who defeated Millom in last season’s final, also have their sights on promotion to Division One of the National Conference, but Wilson said: “We are looking for a strong finish to the season and a win in the final would help us towards that.

“We had a good win at the weekend and are now only four points out of second place, with a game in hand.”

The 24-8 win at Drighlington came at a price, and coach Wilson will have to take late fitness checks on several players.

Adam Jackson and Tom Hopkins are among the doubtful, and luckless Kristian Tyson managed to play only 15 minutes before suffering a shoulder injury.

“We are going out to enjoy the final and there won’t be any pressure on us. We won’t be playing anybody who isn’t fully fit,” Wilson added.

Like their opponents, Barrow Island have run into form and, although they were beaten by West Bowling on Saturday, Elliott was not too concerned.

“They are the league leaders and the best team we have played this season,” he said. “I would say they are on a par with Askam, and although we lost by 10 points I thought we showed a lot of character after going 12 points behind very early on.

“We have settled down in the National Conference, which is faster than the Cumbria League. Callum Nelson is back after a year out following knee surgery, and he has noticed how much quicker and more enjoyable it is.”

Island have not given up on promotion – although they have a lot of ground to make up if they are to claim a play-off spot in Division Three

They will be without the suspended Joe Spencely, but otherwise coaches Elliott and Steve Clarke will have a full squad to choose from.

“We will miss Joe, as he has been man-of-the-match in most games including the game at Dewsbury, when he was sent of. But other than that Steve and I will have a bit of a selection headache before the final,” said Elliott.

Island’s last two appearances in the final ended in victory.

In 2009, they defeated Walney Central and a year later lifted the trophy by accounting for Ulverston.