CLITHEROE boss Dave Burgess will watch this Sunday's FA Vase final with a tinge of regret -- but he could have a more important trophy in the bag by next weekend.

Victories in their last three matches will clinch the NWCL Division One title for the Blues.

And Burgess says his side are keen to avoid being the bridesmaids again after being knocked out in the semi-final of the Vase in March.

"The Vase was a tremendous experience and with the final on Sunday, this is the first time I've thought about about it. We came so close to Cardiff and it could have been us.

"But we can't dwell on that except to say we don't want to be the 'nearly men' again and miss out."

Tomorrow's fixture against second club St Helens at Shawbridge is a huge game -- but Burgess says every match is now as is important as the other.

"To be honest, the Glossop win was important midweek. It really doesn't matter who we play, we know what we've got to do.

"I suppose St Helens in a way is a crunch clash because it is second versus third and because they are a good side. But we beat them at their place and we know we have to win again."

Victory tomorrow, then against Prescot Cables on Bank Holiday Monday and at Kidsgrove next Friday will give Clitheroe 93 points -- one more than Rossendale.

But the euphoria of winning the title could be dampened as the Blues are still waiting to hear from their appeal to the FA after Shawbridge was rejected by the UniBond League.

If they uphold the rejection, the Blues cannot go up.

"If we finish second, third or fourth it's irrelevant as only the first place club goes up," said Burgess. "My job is to make sure we just get ourselves into that position and then we'll worry about that." Whatever happens, though, the Blues boss says he has thoroughly enjoyed his first season as Shawbridge chief.

"For me personally this season has been a marvellous success.

"It has been my first season and there might have been one or two doubters but I knew I could manage a team, helped by my assistant Lee Sculpher.

"Okay, we haven't won anything yet but we were the top North West Counties League team in the Vase and we've been challenging at the top of Division One.

"If we don't win another match now I think it's been successful -- although of course we don't want that!

"Mind you, I've been moving house this week and winning the league should be easy compared to that!"