Our first Velocity Cup Semi-Final took place last night- an all-Premier clash at the Len Salmon as Hashtag United welcomed Haringey Borough- and the Tags emerged victorious, but goodness, they left it late!

Borough were in their best form of the campaign, having won three matches in a row, and they had already defeated two of their Premier rivals to reach this stage- and for much of the match it looked like that would be three. The opening goal arrived on twenty six minutes, and it went to Borough’s most reliable goalscorer, Matthew Young. His fourteenth of the campaign wasn’t his best- a deflected shot from the edge of the box beating Tags keeper Josh Strizovic- but he won’t have worried about that, and for much of the match it looked like it would be the winner.

The equaliser arrived only thirteen minutes from time. It came from the spot- Percy Kiangebeni stepping up to convert after a hand ball was spotted and penalised by referee Craig Charles- no, not that one, there’s not enough room to park Red Dwarf in the Len Salmon car park- and it looked like we were going to have yet more penalties, but Luke May Parrott had other ideas. The Tags number nineteen- and, occasionally, number nine- has been in superb form in front of goal this season, and when Alex Teniola nudged the ball in his direction he made no mistake, continuing his run of a goal every two matches with his twelfth in twenty four to send his side into the final.

The sides meet again in the League on Easter Monday, April 1st- and then the Tags will be off to Parkside, Aveley, for a Final against either Chatham Town or Ashford United, who meet this evening. The Tags will be playing their home matches at Parkside next season, so will hope to return with good memories, and perhaps a trophy.