Ministers scrapped the bidding process for the contract to run inter-city services from London to Penzance, as well as South West branch lines, in January saying longer-term proposals would be outlined in the spring.

However, it has now emerged that the four bidders – FirstGroup, Stagecoach, Arriva and National Express – have lodged court papers in a bid to recover their costs. Each is thought to have spent some £10 million on the process, which was sent into a spin after the flawed awarding of the West Coast Main Line franchise.

A spokesman for FirstGroup, parent company of current operator First Great Western (FGW), confirmed yesterday: "In keeping with the other bidders, FirstGroup has made a protective court filing for the purpose of protecting its position with respect to the reimbursement of bid costs for the cancelled Greater Western franchise competition.

"We have agreed to stay these proceedings to allow the Department for Transport (DfT) sufficient time to respond to the bidders and, for the bidders to then consider the DfT's response.

"This protective action has no bearing on any other discussions that are ongoing between the DfT and the company."

The bidding phase had been sparked following the decision by FGW to exercise an escape-clause in its existing deal three years early, saving a reported £800 million in payments.

The franchise hiatus, however, has resulted in First Great Western having its contract extended from April until October.

Ministers are reportedly desperate for the firm to accept a new two-year contract from then, giving it greater breathing room.

Fears have been voiced that the region has been "left in the limbo" with any short-term deal failing to address issues of over-crowding and punctuality.

The contract chaos dates back to the Government's announcement that First Group had beaten Virgin Trains to the £5 billion West Coast Main Line franchise.

It then backtracked, ditching the decision after the discovery of "significant technical flaws". As a result, three franchise competitions – including Great Western – have been re-started.

While the bidders in the failed West Coast Main Line run-off are being compensated, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said Great Western competitors were "responsible for their own costs" and that it would not be appropriate to reimburse their expenditure.

A DfT spokesman said: "We are aware that the Great Western bidders have issued claims in relation to their Great Western bid costs to protect their position for legal reasons.

"The parties anticipate that a stay will be agreed on these proceedings to allow the department sufficient time to respond to detailed letters received from the bidders last week and for the bidders to then consider the department's response."

University of Exeter's success in climbing league tables may have come at the expense of staff, who have complained of stress and bullying, according to an internal report.

The university, named in the top 10 of several recent "good university" guides, is considered one of the UK's leading institutions, and recently accepted an invitation to join the prestigious Russell Group.

But an internal report, based on 288 responses from the university's 3,900 staff, found "some alarming reports of bullying, manipulative and unpleasant behaviour" by some senior managers.

Staff also said the university had "a self-perpetuating male-dominated culture" with policies such as maternity leave not taken seriously.

In a statement, the university said Council, the university's governing body, had accepted vice-chancellor Sir Steve Smith's responses to the report's recommendations.

"We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this report," it said. "The recommendations will now be carried forward and the senior management team will be tasked to ensure that we make real improvements in the areas identified."

If you thought it was spring, think again... large parts of the Westcountry are likely to see snow, sleet and strong winds over the next few days, as colder weather moves back into the region.

A yellow-graded weather warning was issued by the Met Office yesterday for Sunday night and Monday, and covers most of Devon, Dorset and Somerset. Only parts of North Devon are likely to escape the worst of the weather.

The Exeter-based forecaster said: "Snow will be accompanied by a strong easterly wind which will accentuate the very cold feel. Accumulations of 3 to 5cm of snow could occur quite widely over southern counties, and the public are advised to be aware of this wintry hazard.

"A low pressure system moving up from the Atlantic will come up against the influx of cold air from the north, bringing persistent sleet and snow.

"At the same time winds will increase, with gusts of up to 50mph on coasts and hills. At this stage there is uncertainty about the extent to which snow will settle on the recently warmed ground."

The yellow warning, the least serious of three grades, is valid from 8pm on Sunday to 9pm on Monday.

Steve Crosthwaite, head of the Highways Agency National Traffic Operations Centre, said: "Last week's milder weather only gave our fleet a couple of days off but you can expect to see the salt spreaders out in at least some places over the weekend."

Matt Oakley is not dwelling on Exeter City's midweek defeat to Bristol Rovers and is backing his team-mates to respond to that disappointment at Fleetwood Town today.

The Grecians were beaten 2-0 by a Rovers side fighting to avoid the drop from npower League Two. But while the three points were a welcome boost in their battle to avoid the drop, they were a blow to Exeter's hopes of promotion with the Grecians missing the chance to push into the top three with a victory.

"We have looked at our statistics and our performances against the top teams had not been good enough," Oakley said. "But in the last two weeks, we have beaten Port Vale and Northampton, so we are addressing it.

"We bounced back really well after a defeat last time [when Exeter lost 4-2 to Burton Albion] with two wins and hopefully we can do that again.

"I have never been to Fleetwood before and I am not looking forward to the journey, but I will be all right when we get there!

"I am sure we will be all right. We are in a good position in the league and we are a new team this year, We have gelled pretty well this and we are still in there with some decent games coming up.

"Hopefully, Fleetwood will try and play and it will be a decent football match because there wasn't much of that on Wednesday."

Indeed, the Grecians never really got going at the Memorial Stadium and Oakley, who has been in such superb form for Exeter since his return from injury, struggled to impose the kind of authority he had in City's wins at Port Vale and against Northampton.

That said, Oakley started in a more unfamiliar right-sided midfield role and it was no surprise to see him move infield when he became an isolated.

"After the result on Saturday, we were looking to put a nice little run together, but we came up against a side who are fighting for their lives and caused us a few problems really," he said.

"It was a difficult pitch because it was quite bobbly and whenever we did get anyone in space, we couldn't actually run with the ball.

"I just think there were too many of us that weren't on our games and we got punished with the two goals. Unfortunately, Artur [Krysiak] dropped one in there, but we have to move on and pick ourselves up for the game at Fleetwood."

While the defeat was disappointing one for the Grecians, Oakley believes that shock will stand Exeter in good stead for the long trek north. There was little time to work on anything on the training ground with the players off on Thursday and then setting off for today's game early yesterday morning.

Manager Paul Tisdale oversaw one training session at Lilleshall en route to the Lancashire coast today, but it has been more about rest and recuperation for the Grecians, who are in the midst of a run of two games a week.

"Sometimes defeats are not great for the fans that have travelled, but they do put you back in your place and you go back to doing those things that gets you the wins, which maybe you have lost a bit," Oakley said.

"Maybe we didn't do the basics very well at Bristol Rovers and our tidyness in our passing was not quite there. I don't think we really threatened their goalkeeper other than for a few set pieces and throw ins. Me and Jamie [Cureton] had a shot, but our forwards didn't get much service, so overall it wasn't a great performance from us.

"As I said, we were playing against a team that are fighting for their lives. Their fans got behind them and gave them the lift, but we will look to put that right on Saturday."

Tommy Doherty is Exeter's biggest injury concern after he was withdrawn against Rovers with a sore back. One of the few positives for Exeter to take from the game was a return to action for John O'Flynn, who is certain to be involved again today.

Exeter City (from): Krysiak, Evans; Tully, Woodman, Bennett, Baldwin, Coles, Oakley, Cureton, Davies, Doherty, Amankwaah, O'Flynn, Bauza, Keohane, Molesley, Dawson, Moore-Taylor, Gosling, Micklewright, Roper.

Unavailable: Sercombe (ankle), Gow (ankle), Anderson (unknown), Molesley (suspended), Chamberlain, Wannell, Tillson, Jagger Cane (out on loan).

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale says guessing which teams will finish in the top seven places in npower League Two is still too difficult to predict despite a gap starting to open up between the teams in and outside the play-off places.

The Grecians' opponents today, Fleetwood Town, have seen their promotion hopes suffer a setback with a run of four games without a win but with ten games to go Tisdale is well aware that his team's fortunes as well as Fleetwood's can change quickly.

"It has been a season where you can have two games and the turnaround on your opponents can be huge," said Tisdale.

"The table is very tight and the games are coming thick and fast, so you have always got the potential to slip away or climb the table dramatically.

"We have got ten games to go and we still could see a club dropping away or one or two clubs jumping up. So a game at a time is what we have to concentrate on in terms of focus.

"In terms of predictions and how that top eight or nine will develop, it is very hard to pick. We have got three points at stake at Fleetwood on Saturday, but any win puts pressure on your opponents in the table regardless of who you are playing.

"And if you lose a game it adds pressure to you, so I think it is about keeping your nerve. Taking it one game at a time and, if you lose a game, not getting too panicked by it."

However, despite topping the form table at the start of March, Tisdale is wary that his team have got a tough month ahead. "I think the teams we have got to play, have all got something to play for," he said.

"We should go into the games positive, expecting that we are capable of a win, but on the other hand the teams we are playing against are not far away from putting together some real good performances also."

Fleetwood Town were the bookies' joint-favourites for promotion at the start of the campaign, but having sacked manager Micky Mellon in early December, they have not managed to mount a sustained push for the promotion places. With just ten games to go the Cod Army will be looking for wins rather than draws in the final two months of the season, but Tisdale does not expect that to change their approach to today's match.

"I have to say they do play a very attacking style and I don't see them changing that too much," he said. "I think we will play the same way also. I think we are not quite at that point, where teams are going to change their style. At three or four games left then it might be a be different."

Moves are under way to clear an illegal settlement of caravans from a salt depot owned by Devon County Council.

The occupants – said to be four households from one family, one of whom is thought to be a gypsy – have already been moved on from land near the M5 after being evicted from at least one council house.

Following a complaint over the alleged use of air rifles at the site, anxious residents in Kennford, close to the A38 Devon Expressway, have called for immediate action over the land, which sits in an Area of Great Landscape Value.

Privately, some claim the county authority is "hiding behind" equalities policies over gypsies and travellers rather than clearing the four touring caravans from Red Cross Salt Depot.

After more than eight months, Teignbridge district council has now lost patience with the county council.

Planners are meeting on Monday when they are expected to approve plans to serve an enforcement notice on the county council and the people living on the site.

Devon County Council said moving the family on might simply create a worse problem somewhere else.

Councillor Alan Connett, former Liberal Democrat leader of the authority, said Teignbridge had "no obligation to rehouse the family".

"It falls to the county council to do more than it has to find them somewhere to live peacefully without breaching the planning laws," he said.

The family first rolled up to the Dawlish Road depot last July just as enforcement action was due to be taken against them on Highways Agency land in Exminster.

They are believed to have been forced to leave council houses in Exminster and also Exeter.

In January, Teignbridge officials received a series of complaints that the matter had not yet been resolved.

They said the site is regularly visited by the Devon County Gypsy Liaison Officer, who hopes "a more appropriate site can be found sooner rather than later".

A spokesman for Teignbridge said: "We have to strike a balance between those people who have to have somewhere to live and those in the vicinity who have to put up with them. If we don't start action there is a danger the use becomes established."

A spokesman for Devon County Council said it would continue to help find "a long-term housing solution". "While there remains no alternative option at the moment, our view is that moving the family from this, relatively isolated location runs a risk they would simply move to another more unsuitable location where their safety, that of the settled community and the travelling public could be compromised further," he added.

A man in his 20s has been killed and two other people are in hospital with life threatening injuries after a collision on the M5 this morning.

The accident happened at 6.13am on the southbound side of the motorway between junctions 25 and 26 at Taunton.

Police said the road was likely to remain closed until the afternoon and advised motorists to use alternative routes.

Sergeant Jim Whatley, from the Roads Policing Unit of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "This is a serious incident in which a young man has tragically lost his life.

"I am particularly keen to speak to anyone who was using the motorway network at this time who may have witnessed this collision."

Any witnesses are asked to call 101.

The National Housing Federation (NHF), which compiled the figures, wants the Government to exempt vulnerable people from the spare room penalty to be introduced next month.

Opponents say those hit by a benefits cut of up to an average of £637 a year in some parts of Devon and Cornwall will be forced to find a new home – but finding a smaller home is impossible given the chronic shortage of properties.

Catherine Brabner, the NHF's South West manager, said: "The Government's bedroom tax is flawed and will unfairly penalise thousands of people in the South West who have lived in their homes for years, raised families and contributed to their communities.

"The 'one-size-fits-all' approach takes no account of disabled people's adapted homes, of foster parents who need rooms to take children in, or of parents sharing custody who will lose the room for their child at weekends.

"In most areas, there just aren't enough smaller affordable homes for these families to move into to avoid the tax. Many people will find themselves having to move into more expensive privately rented properties – adding to the overall housing benefit bill."

She added: "The high housing benefit bill is because there are not enough affordable homes, so the best way to cut the bill is to build more."

The Western Morning News this week reported that 30,000 people in the wider South West would be hit by the cut to benefits for under-occupancy, according to the official impact assessment.

The NHF, which represents housing associations, estimates 9,170 of those are in Devon and Cornwall, and in turn 5,777 have disabilities. Ministers are determined to bring down Britain's bloated benefits bill, but have given councils more than £150 million to help vulnerable tenants.

Labour has warned the spare-room clampdown will hit a range of social groups, from households with relatives away serving in the armed forces to separated parents who keep a room so their children can stay.

The NHF says the Government's own estimate is that 63% of those affected are disabled, and that funding to offset the impact on the vulnerable will hand them as little as £1.71 a week.

Under the Government's proposals, people in social housing will receive a cut in housing benefit where they are deemed to have spare bedrooms.

Ministers dispute the term "bedroom tax" – arguing it is not a "tax" but a partial withdrawal of a state hand-out.

A Department for Work Pensions spokesman said: "Councils have been given an extra £155 million this year so that they can help their vulnerable tenants, with £30 million specifically targeted towards supporting disabled people who have modified their homes and foster carers.

"We need to ensure a better use of social housing when over a quarter of a million tenants are living in overcrowded homes and 2 million are on housing waiting lists."

Fire crews rescued a bird that had become tangled in fishing wire and was dangling from a tree in Exeter this morning.

The RSPCA raised the alarm shortly after 10am after somebody spotted the bird on Grasslands Drive in Monkerton.

Firefighters from Middlemoor discovered a female blackbird hanging by its foot from fishing wire in a tree. 

They were able to release it unharmed.

THE Express & Echo have again teamed up with Exeter City to offer fans a chance to win a signed Grecians shirt as well as a pair of Big Bank tickets to Exeter City's home game against Gillingham Town on Tuesday, March 12.

All you have to do is predict the correct score from the match away to Fleetwood Town, if you guess correctly, you'll be entered into a draw to win two Big Bank tickets to the game against league leaders Gillingham on March 12.

Game info and betting odds   Exeter City go into the match looking to bounce back from Wednesday night's 2-0 defeat away at Bristol Rovers. However they go into the match on pretty decent form having beaten high-flying Northampton Town and title-chasing Port Vale in recent weeks. Fleetwood, on theother hand, haven't won in their late four matches and were fortunate to come away with a point when the two sides met earlier this season at St James's Park. Fleetwood need the three points as they bid to get back into the play-off places, but if they adopt an attacking approach I see that benefiting City who are generally good playing counter-attacking football away from home. Remember if you fancy placing a bet on the match you can chose Bet Butler as you chosen bookies at https://exetercity.betbutler.co.uk/#home where every bet helps Exeter City FC.

The Judge's verdict: Fleetwood Town 1 Exeter City 2

Competition Rules: Enter the competition by registering as a user to this website and putting your score prediction in the comments box below. Only one bet on a correct score is allowed per fan, per game. Any fan placing multiple bets, even if under different usernames, will be disqualified from entering that week's draw for tickets and any subsequent draws, as well as the draw for the signed shirt. Fans must write out the score in full i.e Gillingham 2 Exeter City 3, Gillingham 2 Exeter 3, to avoid confusion. Any bets not written out in full will be also disqualified.  All entries must be submitted before kick-off. For further terms and conditions please go to www.thisisexeter.co.uk/houserules

Exeter students "Discover Islam"

– By Students' Guild Islamic Society

University of Exeter Islamic Society Presents 'Discover Islam Month': 11th February – 8th March 2013

The 11th February 2013, marked the beginning of the University of Exeter Islamic Society's 'Discover Islam month', funded by the University Students' Guild and the International Student Support. Promising to be a month packed full of high profile speakers, weekly Quran circles and an abundance of goodie bags, the month worth of events did not disappoint.

"Eloquence of the Quran"

 The first event was led by Birmingham based Sheikh Ahsan Hanif, speaking on the topic of the 'Eloquence of the Quran'. In highlighting the nuances of various Quranic verses, and then subsequently relating instances whereby non-muslims were inspired by the Qur'an, the Sheikh was able to offer new perspectives in dealing with Quranic interpretation, alongside how the Quran can be utilised in everyday life. In focusing on the Quran's influence on non-muslims, the Sheikh was able to illustrate the Quran's, and consequently Islam's, universal outreach, thus working towards combating permeating stereotypes and misconceptions associated with the religion. 

"Love and Marriage"

 Valentine's day is not celebrated within the Muslim faith. However, that is not to say that Islam does not have its own tradition and understanding of ideas relating to romance. Two days before Valentine's day, therefore, the talk was led by AbdelRahman Murphy from America, who discussed the topic of 'Love and Marriage'. Whilst Sheikh Ahsan Hanif was representative of Islam's scholarly, formal, textual based tradition, AbdelRahman Murphy demonstrated Islam's accessibility for the youth. In taking a more interactive approach, Murphy was able to engage with his audience, often reducing them to fits of tears consequent of his abundance of anecdotes. Alongside humour, however, Murphy tackled serious issues faced by Muslim youths of today, in addition to illustrating the timeless quality of Islam, whereby its principles are still applicable in a 21st century context.

One of the main disappointments of Discover Islam Month was the postponement of the "Understanding Islamic Finance and Banking" talk, which was scheduled to expect one of the biggest turn-outs, particularly attracting students from the Business School.

The speaker had to reschedule for the talk three days before the event, not giving the Islamic Society sufficient time to get a replacement speaker, therefore the Islamic Society are keen to deliver this event before the end of term two.

Quran Circles

Taking place every Tuesday evening, the aims of the Quran Circles was to teach attendees how Muslims around the world build a relationship with the Quran. At the same time, they were provided with tools that would enable them to apply its teachings to their everyday lives. Led by the President of the Islamic Society, Mohamed Mohamed, lessons ranged from studying Chapter 1 of the Quran – "The Opener" (Arabic: "Surah Al-Fatihah") to topics focusing on patience, beneficence and contemplation, to name only a few. The circles were very interactive, offering students' a systematic and structured way to study the Quran.

Muslim Women in the West

From left to right: "Rosemary Khreisheh, Nafeesah Younis and Sahar Al-Faifi

The status of women and, in particular, Muslim women has been widely contested in the media for many years. The Islamic Society, therefore, invited three Muslim women from diverse backgrounds one who did not wear 'Hijab' (head scarf – concealing of the hair), one who wears Hijab and one who wears a 'Niqab' (face veil).  In doing so, they aimed to show how there is no one set Muslim woman, but instead how different women can come together under one common belief. This talk also aimed at breaking down barriers and allowing access to a minority which is often unheard and stereotyped. People were also given an insight into the Islamic roles of women politically, socially, economically and spiritually. The women each spoke about their own experiences varying from a convert brought up in a Christian household (Rosemary Khreisheh) in York, to a woman raised in a Pakistani household (Nafeesah Younis) in the Midlands and a woman born in Saudi Arabia (Sahar Al-Faifi) who then moved the UK. They tackled common misconceptions about gender in Islam, saying 'there is no gender in spirituality' and 'in Islam there is no inequality, we sit on the floor together, pray to the same point – a great sense of unity'. Questions from the audience provided an opportunity for the women to showcase their knowledge and opinions, giving thought provoking answers to questions on hijab and men's reactions to strong women such as themselves.

"3 Men, 1 Mission" Series

The "3 Men, 1 Mission" series took place every Friday, from week two to four of the programme, a series which was exclusive to the biggest mosque in South West England, where visiting guests would get the full experience of a mosque environment, the focal point of many Muslims' lives. The series focused on the three major Prophets in Islam: Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Them) lead by University Muslim Chaplain and Exeter Mosque Imam, Mohammed Abrar.

"Life of Prophet Moses (As)"

The '3 men, 1 mission series', taking place at Exeter mosque began with a talk by local Imam and  University Chaplain , Imam Mohammed Abrar delivering a talk on the role of Musa (Moses) (as) in Islam. He emphasised the importance of Musa (as) in Islam and his significance in the Quran – i.e. he was mentioned 136 times – more than any other Prophet. The topic also provided an opportunity to ask a variety of questions, citing similarities and differences between Judaism and Islam. The talk was well received by a large audience comprising of both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Imam Mohammed Abrar (above), addressing attendees at Exeter Mosque for the "3 Men, 1 Mission Series.

"Jesus (AS) in Islam"

The '3 men, 1 mission series' next saw Imam Mohammed Abrar giving a talk on Isa (Jesus) (as), a topic which always draws interest, particularly from non-Muslims, often unaware that Isa (as) is considered a Prophet in Islam. He spoke from the point of Isa's (as) birth and the miracles he performed as a child – such as being able to speak as a baby. Connected to this he also stressed the importance of Isa's mother – Maryam (Mary) (as) and her role in Islam. A variety of questions were asked, both from Muslims and non Muslims in attendance. These allowed the Imam to discuss the differences and similarities in the portrayal of Isa (as) between Christianity and Islam, such as when he will return before the Day of Judgement.

"Muhammad (PBUH), The Final Messenger"

Discover Islam Month and the '3 men 1 mission' series both came to end with a talk at Exeter Mosque presented by Imam Mohammed Abrar, on the last of the Prophets, the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). This talk produced the biggest turnout of the series and was attended by both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The Imam gave details about Mohammed's (peace be upon him) life both before and after he became a Prophet, quoting stories from the Quran and Hadith and Sunnah. The Imam also used Mohammed's (peace be upon him) teachings to explain characteristics of Muslims, such as being kind and thoughtful, and also used them to explain women's status in Islam (in fitting with International Women's Day). The talk was well received by Muslims and non-Muslims and really helped to break common misconceptions about the Prophet's (peace be upon him) life and teachings.

Exeter Mosque Tour

Imam Mohammed Abrar (above), addressing University staff, students' and locals at the Exeter Mosque Tour

The penultimate event of Discover Islam Month was the mosque tour which was the most popular event for University staff. The Imam went through a short history of the mosque, and the challenges it faced whilst it was still in development, especially straight after 9/11. Those on the tour were then able to go and witness the midday prayer in the main prayer hall, and the women in the group also had the opportunity to visit the women's prayer section and also view the other facilities on offer for women at the mosque. They were then again invited to have a Q&A session with the Imam who explained the importance of prayer, and gave in depth detail of why Muslims perform prayer in such a specific way. The reaction from those who attended was thoroughly positive and they remarked how peaceful and lovely the mosque is. "The peaceful atmosphere was definitely a welcome break for myself and co in the middle of a hectic day," a University staff member said.

At all of these events, the Islamic Society provided free material for all attendees, catering for over 250 people who attended Discover Islam Month.

The free books, leaflets and posters went down a lovely treat, and were widely admired by both students' and University staff.

All in all, Discover Islam Month was a big success for the Islamic Society, the support and funding from the Students' Guild and International Student Support showed how accepting the university is with diversity and free speech, for Muslim students to teach the student population (and Exeter community), the truth about Islam.

Written by: Nafeesah Younis & Jamilla Hekmoun

Photography: Huda Neverson

Twitter: @UniExeterISoc

Facebook: University of Exeter Islamic Society

Email:islamic@exeterguild.com& exeislamicsoc@gmail.com

EXETER City youngsters have been handed an away tie at Plymouth Argyle in the semi-final of the Devon St Luke's Bowl.
Having been handed a bye in the first round, City have beaten Willand Rovers and Tiverton Town to reach the final four in the competition.
Last week, a young City squad defeated Tiverton 4-1 scoreline, thanks to a brace by Tom Nichols and a goal apiece by Ollie Watkins and Jamie Reid.
That game had been a rematch of the 2009 final, when City had triumphed 2-0 at Ladysmead.
Torquay United are also semi-finalists, and will face the winners of the Plymouth Parkway v Bideford tie which takes place on Tuesday, March 12.

Exeter City will travel away to Plymouth Argyle in the semi-final of the Devon St Luek's Bowl having beaten Tiverton Town 4-1 to reach the last four.
City's match at Home Park has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 9, with a 7.30pm kick-off.
Having been handed a bye in the first round, a representative City side also beat Willand Rovers to help them on their way to the semis.
Again Tiverton Town, Tom Nichols scored a brace while Ollie Watkins and Jamie Reid grabbed a goal each.  That game had been a rematch of the 2009 final, when City had triumphed 2-0 at Ladysmead.
Torquay United are also semi-finalists, and will face the winners of the Plymouth Parkway v Bideford tie which takes place on Tuesday, March 12.