SF: Kay Street 3 Hurdfield 4 (AET)

As close as the score suggests on a soggy pitch with quite a lot of surface water.

Hurdsfield twice took the lead and Kay Street twice equalised in normal time, their second equaliser was with only a minute or so of the match remaining. I felt we had more clear cut scoring chances than Kay Street and their keeper made a number of very good saves, but as we weren't able to convert to give ourselves more than a one goal advantage Kay Street always looked capable of getting the two equalisers they did get. There were times in the 90 minutes that Kay Street seemed to want it more than us.

I did wonder as we went into extra time if the younger Kay Street team might have the edge, but it didn't turn out like that. The crucial moment in the first period of extra time was when Hurdsfield were awarded a soft penalty and we converted it.....there had been what looked to me like a clearer Hurdsfield penalty 'claim' just moments earlier which the ref waved away. Many of the Kay Street players were incensed by the penalty, but then as they pressed for the equaliser in the second ET period Hurdsfield scored a break away goal to make it 4-2. A few minutes from time, Kay street pulled a goal back but were not able to find another equaliser.

It is a cliche, but it was tough on Kay Street that there had to be a loser from this match. But, at our fifth or maybe even sixth SMCCFL Semi-Final attempt Hurdsfield have at last reached a Final !.....eventually we were going to be successful at one and it was unlucky for Kay Street that it was against them. Some very tired Hurdsfield players were pleased to win of course and I think we did just deserve to win.

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