IT is exciting times for the Cheshire Inter-League representative team, which has a strong Warrington flavour.

Managed by Warringtonian Jimmy Bush, formerly in charge at Greenalls Padgate St Helens, Cheshire go into a national contest this weekend on the back of winning the North West Inter-League competition - the Jeff Walton Memorial Cup.

Cheshire, who defeated the Manchester Inter-League side 3-1 with six players from Warrington clubs, host Isle of Man at Knutsford FC's Manchester Road home on Saturday, kick off 1pm, for the right to appear in the quarter finals of the FA Inter-League Cup.

There is much at stake for a squad that includes players from Greenalls, Rylands and Eagle Sports, with the cup winners going on to represent England in a European championship.

"Hopefully we’ll have all the players fit and available, but we’ve shown the strength of players in this league already," said Bush, whose assistant is the current Greenalls manager Phil Harrison.

"We have the quality available. If we can play like we did against Manchester versus Isle of Man we will give ourselves a chance to get through. We’ll be ready.”

Jack Hynes, Lee Vaughan (both Greenalls), Callum Wilson (Rylands) and Adam Coleman (Eagle) were in the starting line-up as Cheshire outgunned Manchester in last Monday's cup final, with Ben Slater (Greenalls) and Nathan Williams (Eagle) appearing off the bench.

Vaughan scored Cheshire's third goal midway through the second half and the defence stood strong to protect the two-goal lead against a Manchester side that had gone 1-0 ahead after 10 minutes.

Bush's boys had to overcome setbacks of three players withdrawing with injury before kick off, plus losing Knutsford pair Sean Lynch and skipper Ste Jenyons with a pulled calf and hamstring respectively during the first half.

"We showed a bit of steel," said Bush.

"The first 20 minutes we were getting bullied. You have to have faith in these lads though.

"They’re very good footballers, and they made it work, showed a lot of heart and dealt with Manchester's physicality.

"From the moment the equaliser went in, we completely controlled it. The middle hour of the game, we were superb, they couldn’t get near us, and we soaked up all they had.

"It sets us up nicely for the big one versus Isle of Man."

Cheshire: Aaron Tyrer (Linotype Cheadle), Jack Hynes (Greenalls PSO), Sean Lynch (Knutsford), Callum Wilson (Rylands), Steve Jenyons (Knutsford), Adam Coleman (Eagle), Danny Clarke (Garswood United), James Pickford (Knutsford), Lee Vaughan (Greenalls PSO), Phil Yuille (Linotype Cheadle), David Owens (Knutsford). Subs used: Nathan Williams (Eagle), Lee Mannion (Knutsford), Ben Slater (Greenalls PSO). Subs not used: Ellis Houghton (Greenalls PSO), Conor Yarwood (Greenalls PSO).