After yesterdays narrow 3-2 regulation loss to the Telford Tigers, our cup fate now lies in the hands of both the Deeside Ducks and the Altrincham Aces.

Both Deeside and Altrincham have two games left in the cup round robin phase, both against each other. The first fixture will take place today (8/12) and the second fixture will be just before Christmas on the 21st of December.

We finished the cup round robin phase with 8 Games Played, 5 Wins and 3 Losses which is good enough for 15 Points. Most importantly, we finished with 33 Goals Scored and 19 Against for a Goal Difference of +14.

Altrincham currently sit on 3 Wins from 6 Games Played, good enough for 9 Points. They have scored 21 Goals and Conceded 23, for a Goal Difference of -2. With their two games currently remaining, it means with two regulation time wins, ourselves and Altrincham would find ourselves sitting on 15 Points. Now, we go to the tiebreakers.

Here is the tie-breaking criteria and it's order:

1. Points

2. Points in the games between the tied teams

3. Overall goal difference in the regular league season

4. Overall goals scored in the regular league season

5. Number of regulations wins

6. Overall goal difference in matches between the tied teams

7. Fewer penalty points

8. Fewer penalty minutes

In the event of two teams being tied, the first tiebreak criteria is 'Points'. If Altrincham are to get two regulation time wins, we will both sit on 15 points and we would have to move down the criteria list. Anything other than two regulation time wins for Altrincham, will see ourselves through to the semi-finals.

The second tiebreak criteria is 'Points in the games between the tied teams'. Within the round robin, we played Altrincham once home and once away. Both teams came out with three points each, both winning in regulation away from home. Should it come to this criteria point, we have to move down to point three.

In the event of both the points being tied and the points between the two teams being tied, we now move into 'Overall Goal Difference'. This means, with their two games remaining, Altrincham must win the two games in regulation but also win those games scoring 17 more goals than they concede. This would leave Altrincham's goal difference on +15 and they would qualify, bettering our current +14 goal difference. Should Altrincham find that they win both games in regulation and score 16 more goals than they concede, we would be both tied on points and on goal difference (+14) - We have to move to the next tiebreak criteria. If they are to score anything less than that, we will go through to the Semi-Finals on Goal Difference.

If we have to move onto point number four, we would then have to consult the 'Goals scored during the round robin'. We currently sit on 33 Goals Scored and Altrincham sit on 21 Goals Scored. Should we get to this tiebreak criteria, it has meant that Altrincham have scored 16 goals more goals than they have conceded, meaning they would advance to the semi-finals with more goals scored.

In short, for us to qualify we need one of the following:

1. Altrincham to lose in any fashion in one of their games.

2. Altrincham to win in overtime or a penalty shootout in one of their games.

3. Altrincham win both games in regulation, but do not score 16 more than they concede. Any less, and we qualify.

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We understand this can be very confusing and there are a lot of points to consider however, we have now done all we can do and our fate lies in two other team's hands. We will have to wait and see the two results that will come out of these games and hope we are the fourth and final team to qualify and join Telford, Sutton and Billingham in the final four.

We will keep you updated on the progress of the two games and what it means for us and our qualification hopes.