HAMPSHIRE FA are gearing themselves up for their biggest match in 15 years on Saturday when the under-18s host East Riding in the Daily Echo-sponsored FA Youth Cup semi-final at Eastleigh's Sparshatts Stadium (1pm).

Not since 1990 have they made the final and on that occasion they heartbreakingly lost 2-1 to Staffordshire in a replay after a 1-1 draw.

The only time Hampshire have ever won the competition was nearly half a century ago in 1957 when a 4-3 aggregate victory over Cheshire saw them crowned national champions.

The FA County Youth Cup, originally known as the County Minor (Youths') Championship, was launched in 1944-45 by the Football Association to provide representative football for the best young players who had not signed for professional clubs.

Players under the age of 18, be they at school or playing in leagues affiliated to county football associations, are eligible, although not all counties take part.

The Army, Navy and RAF can also enter and this season a total 47 teams went into battle.

Hampshire made a blistering start to the campaign, demolishing Gloucestershire 5-1 in the first round before securing a hard-fought victory at Huntingdonshire in round two.

After looking decidedly lacklustre and goal-shy in their following two South-West Counties Championship defeats to Berks & Bucks and Wiltshire, signs of improvement were shown in a 3-3 draw with Cornwall.

Two more impressive County Cup victories followed over Guernsey and Birmingham, setting them up for what will be a rematch of last season's bitterly disappointing quarter-final against East Riding.

Bill Caine's side certainly have a point to prove.

Last year a dire first-half performance allowed East Riding to gallop into a 3-0 interval lead at Blackfield & Langley and, though Hampshire came back strongly in the second half, it was too little, too late in a 3-2 defeat.

Should they get the revenge they crave, Hampshire would face the winners of next Saturday's (March 12) semi-final between Suffolk and Sussex.

Winchester City provide six members of the county under-18 squad in keeper Henry Howes, winger Mike Gosney, utility player Adam Roberts, defender/midfielder Ryan Woodford and strikers Ben Kneller and Ben'yela Ngwa.

Fleet Town are represented by keeper Paul Smith and midfielder Matt Lewis with defender Dominic Bryan (Brockenhurst) and midfielder Steve Bernard (Christchurch) providing further Wessex League club representation.

Aldershot Town provide the remaining five players.