Marine & Southport one step away from Wembley

Three hundred and thirty six non-league sides entered but only four remain as the Isuzu FA Trophy semi-finals take place on Saturday afternoon. Two National League North clubs - Marine AFC and Southport - are still in the competition and are just one match away from setting up a Sefton derby showdown at Wembley for the showpiece final on Sunday, 17 May. Marine, currently 13th in the sixth tier, head south to Wealdstone of the National League.

While Southport, just one place below Marine in National League North, host Southend United, who are currently seventh and just inside the National League play-off places after their heartbreaking play-off final defeat in extra-time by Oldham Athletic at Wembley last June. Both Merseyside clubs will go into Saturday's semi-finals as underdogs but that hasn't got in their way so far this season. So, how did we get here?

New territory for the Mariners Five years on from a terrific FA Cup run which saw them host Tottenham Hotspur in the third round , Marine are at it again. A 2-0 victory over Stocksbridge Park Steels and a 2-1 success against Curzon Ashton saw them safely into the fourth round of this season's FA Trophy. There, they awaited Gloucester City, a side from the Southern Premier and a team Marine were expected to beat but a goal in the first-half from Sion Spence rocked them.

The Mariners fought back in the second period and grabbed a leveller when James Potter struck to take the game into extra-time and, after the two sides could not be separated, penalties awaited under the lights at Rossett Park. Two saves from Everton loanee Fraser Barnsley saw Marine progress 4-3 on penalties to set up a showdown in the fifth round against Tamworth of the National League. A trip to the Lamb Ground is never easy, just ask Spurs fans who saw their side forced into extra-time in last year's FA Cup third round with the National League club already seeing off League One sides Huddersfield Town and Burton Albion before them.