Ilfracombe continue their bid to keep hold of league cup

ILFRACOMBE TOWN continue their defence of the Les Phillips Cup on Saturday.

Combe lifted the Toolstation Western League's knockout trophy last May after beating first-division side Cadbury Heath in the final.

They face lower-division opposition again in the second round as Melksham Town visit Marlborough Park.

Barry Yeo, the Ilfracombe manager, said: "The cup is something we have got to focus on now.

"It's our main aim for the season – to try to win that one.

"We have got the tag of reigning champions and it is something to live up to.

"It's motivation. The players have got in their heads the feeling of what it was like to go to the final last year."

Ilfracombe beat Cadbury 3-1 at Wells City's Athletic Ground with goals from Shaun Lewis (two) and Steve Holland.

Melksham are third in the first division, level on points with second-placed Cadbury.

"Melksham are trying their utmost to get out of the first division," said Yeo.

"It's going to be tough, they are a good side.

"Getting to the final last year was a lot of hard work, we played some tough sides."

Yeo expects to have a full-strength squad to pick from and hopes the Marlborough Park pitch will be in good shape after successive postponements over the last two weekends.

"The groundstaff and everyone involved with the club is going to try really hard to get the game on," he said.

Ilfracombe beat Westbury United 4-0 in the first round in September.