Anagram Records Trophy Semi Final Padbury United BTFC 1 Park Street Village 2 PARK Street Village overcame the swirling wind, bobbly pitch and a barrage of abuse to book their place in the Anagram Records Trophy Final with a 2-1 win at Spartan South Midla

Anagram Records Trophy Semi Final

Padbury United BTFC 1 Park Street Village 2

PARK Street Village overcame the swirling wind, bobbly pitch and a barrage of abuse to book their place in the Anagram Records Trophy Final with a 2-1 win at Spartan South Midlands Division Two side Padbury United.

This will be PSV's 11th cup final in seven years and manager Ryan Thompson is understandably elated.

He told The Herts Advertiser: "I'm well chuffed with the result. We knew nothing about them and they knew nothing about us.

"We were awful in the first half, we weren't at the races. The pitch was bobbly and the wind was swirling but that's no excuse. I thought they were superb. We're flying the flag for the Herts Senior County League. This is really unchartered territory for us."

Park Street were given a wake up call when Padbury hit the bar within 60 seconds, and further pressure within the opening 20 minutes saw Chris Day clearing the ball off the line twice.

A long clearance by PSV goalkeeper Tony Kerby was latched onto by Matt Newman but his first-time effort was saved by the Padbury goalkeeper.

Newman then got free of the defence and got off a shot that hit the post and James Hill was unable to get a touch to push it over the line.

Disaster struck for the visitors in the 52nd minute when a cross came in which the centre halves didn't deal with and the goalkeeper didn't come for giving Lee White an easy tap-in.

PSV boss Thompson responded by making a couple of changes bringing on Peter Hanson and Andy Murphy and they did the trick.

With 67 minutes on the clock some clever play by Hill set up Ant Burns who coolly slotted home to draw the Herts Senior County League side level.

Inspired by the goal, PSV went looking for another goal and they were duly rewarded when Andy Murphy scored with 14 minutes remaining.

The goal was not without a large slice of fortune. Newman played in Murphy between the centre half and the full back and despite Murphy's shocking first touch the goalkeeper spilled the ball allowing Murphy to apply the finish.

The home side threw everything at Village in the last five minutes. Kerby was pole axed by a Padbury player and despite the 'keeper on the floor requiring treatment the referee waved play on. Unsportingly Padbury continued to pepper the Village goal with shots before PSV could kick the ball into touch.

Kerby then received a split eye after a boot connected with his face but this wasn't enough to stop PSV reaching their 11th final in seven years.

The big games don't stop there for PSV with an Aubrey Cup quarter final clash with Bushey Rangers awaiting this weekend.

"We've got a big game with Bushey at the weekend and most of the squad are available. Team selection will be a real headache but I'd rather have that than what we had at the start of the season when we didn't have enough players.

"We won the cup last year and we want to retain it."

Park Street Village: Kerby, T.Burns, Thompson, C.Day, Seeby, A.Burns, Ruck, Shackell, Newman, Hill, M.Day. Hanson, Woodruff, Wright, Ross, Murphy.