NORTHEND and Lyndhurst do battle at Follands Park tonight (7.30) for the right to face Locksley Sports in the final of the Southampton Senior Cup on April 21.

Hampshire League high-flyers Lyndhurst, who recently mauled county rivals Broughton 8-1, take on the biggest underdogs to reach the semi-finals in years, Senior 2 Northend who are only in their second season in senior football yet boast the competition's top scorer in Garth Meyer.

They were formed in 2002-03 as a breakaway from the old Wildern side under the guidance of Barry Northend, winning a place in Junior 1 and gaining promotion despite only a mid-table finish due to restructuring of higher leagues.

Can they do it? The heart says 'yes' but the brain says 'no', although Midanbury achieved a similar feat a few years ago.

Lyndhurst, though, have a strong Cup tradition, winning the Hampshire A Cup in recent times and the Southampton Senior League Cup last season.

They will start red-hot favourites for a first visit to St Mary's.