Birchwood tournament professional Archer goes into the final event of the season lying 42nd in the European Tour Order of Merit - only four places below Shaw Hill's Dougherty who was in freefall after missing 10 successive cuts until the Dunhill Links Championship earlier this month.
Of the two, Archer has proved by far the most consistent in his best season since winning his card three years ago.
Fellow Englishman Paul Casey is red-hot favourite to clinch the merit as he holds a é146,163 lead over Ireland's Padraig Harrington.
Meanwhile Cheshire players David Horsey and Paul Waring have been joined in 12-strong England Elite Squad, announced today, by a Lancastrian who has yet to play at senior level for his county.
Ben Parker spends half his time in Germany with his father, who is a professional, and the rest in Southport where he is a member of Royal Birkdale.
The 19-year-old has so far been unable to take his place in the Red Rose side because of his England commitments.
Dunham Forest Trophy winners and Bolton League champions Chorley are on course for a treble after being drawn at home to Dunscar in the semi-finals of the Jack Taylor Trophy.
They breezed through the last round by beating Breightmet by four points as Dunscar dispatched Great Lever and Farnworth 4-1.
Deane, who eclipsed Hindley Hall 3-2. will host Westhoughton who edged through by the same score against Turton.
Chorley's attempt to reach the grand final of the Home Nations' Junior Championship ended when they had to settle for sixth place in the national shoot-out at Woburn.
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