A penalty shoot-out win for Hilltop ended hopes of a Skew Bridge derby in the final of the Herts Advertiser Sunday League Challenge Cup.
Skew Bridge held up their end of the deal with a hard-fought 4-2 win over Blackberry Jacks.
It needed extra-time after the sides were ties 2-2 after 90 minutes but they went on to secure their passage with two goals each for Dave Keenleyside and Ed Frost.
Michael Wright and Frank Jowle got the Jacks’ goals.
But it was Hilltop who came out on top in the second semi-final against Skew Bridge Rothamsted, winning 8-7 on penalties after another 2-2 draw.
James Elliott got both goals for Rothamsted.
The final takes place this Sunday at Clarence Park after the Intermediate Cup final between FC Potters Bar and AFC London Road.
Potters Bar’s 4-3 defeat to Mermaid ended any hopes of them lifting the title and in doing so handed the crown to Sunday’s opponents.
Jon Walsh, Bradley Swaile and Luke Watling bagged the Bar goals.
In Division One Plough & Harrow recorded one of their best results of the season with a 4-2 defeat of second place Tansley. Aykan Gurger, Josh Small and Chris Dunn were the men on target.
For the second time this season Hatfield Seniors gave Division Three title-chasing Wheathampstead ‘89 a tough game but they ended up losing 3-2 despite goals from Curtis Warner and Jack Freund.
Goalkeeper Aaron Puleston was Seniors’ star player.
League leaders’ Pioneer Selection won their 17th league game of the year by beating Marshalswick Rovers 5-0.
Jake Smith was their star player, scoring his second hat-trick of the season, while Jamie Sharp and Philip Di Gesaro chipped in with the others.
Ashley Kingston was the top marksman of the day with five goals for Wrestlers in their 7-3 Golding Cup Division A win against Herts Lions. Andrew Rush and Joe Smith bagged the other goals.
James Todd pushed him close in Division B of the Golding Cup with all four in Welwyn Warriors’ 4-1 win over Harpenden Colts OB.
Kanyin Fagarde scored for the OBs while there were good performances from Kieran Thorne and Darren Smith.
Goalkeeper Darren Foster was Royston Rangers Res’ outstanding player in their 0-0 draw with Forza Watford.
Results
Division One: Phoenix 1 Pinewood 1; Plough & Harrow 3 Tansley 2.
Division Two: FC Potters Bar 3 Mermaid 4.
Division Three: Hatfield Seniors 2 Wheathampstead ‘89 3; Marshalswick Rovers 0 Pioneer Selection 5.
Golding Cup Division A: The Wrestlers 7 Herts Lions 3.
Golding Cup Division B: Royston Rangers Res 0 Forza Watford 0; Welwyn Warriors 4 Harpenden Colts OB 1.
Herts Ad Challenge Cup semi-final: Blackberry Jacks 2 Skew Bridge 4 (aet), Skew Bridge Rothamsted 2 Hilltop 2 (Hilltop win 8-7 on penalties)
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