Joe Lennon Memorial Cup semi-final:

Hakin United 3–0 Herbrandston

GOALS from Adam John, Nicky Woodrow and Ben Fawcett capped a dominant Hakin United display as The Vikings won through to a seventh straight Joe Lennon Memorial Cup final by beating Herbrandston tonight.

Herbie, promoted back into Division One last season, were resolute for long spells, but in truth were left indebted to a fantastic display by keeper Gareth Marshallsay, back from a lengthy lay off with injury, to keep the score at 3-0.

As expected, the Division One champions were quick out the blocks, and Herbie did well to withstand a frantic start which saw Hakin left winger John denied twice from point blank range due to a great double save from Marshallsay.

A James Stanmore corner then found its way to Hakin left back Bradley Barrett at the back post, who volleyed narrowly over, before home striker Woodrow failed to connect with a John free kick in the six yard area.

The pressure continued as Justin Harding curled a 20 yard free kick straight at Marshallsay – but then on the 18 minute mark, it was The Vikings who were suddenly living dangerously.

Herbie striker Scott Reid, who spent the 2015/16 season at The Obs, got in behind the home back four and skipped past Adrian Devonald, only to be tripped by the Hakin keeper just outside the area.

Referee Bernie Armstrong showed Devonald a yellow card, with the latter perhaps saved by the fact Reid’s touch was taking him away from goal.

The striker took the free kick himself but dragged his low effort wide, before Oliver West’s side threatened again as Mark Jones made ground down the left and slipped a pass inside to Kyle Sutton, whose stinging 25-yard drive was brilliantly tipped around the post by the outstretched Devonald.

Kristan Bennett’s men restored their attacking momentum though, as John found Woodrow in the area, who teed himself up before volleying over.

Marshallsay was then at his best again with another super double save, pushing away Stanmore’s driven left foot shot before springing back to his feet to block Woodrow’s follow up effort.

But on 38 minutes, Hakin did take the lead when Stanmore’s low cross set up John eight yards from goal, and after his first shot was blocked, the little winger hammered the rebound high into Marshallsay’s net.

And then harshly for the visitors, The Vikings doubled the lead in the final seconds of the half, as Ryan Wilson’s low cross was tucked away first time by Woodrow.

The opening stages of the second half lacked the intensity of the first, but The Vikings were soon pressing as Harding’s close range shot was well blocked by Herbie defender Ryan Davies, before Daniel Armstrong surged up from the back to volley a Stanmore cross back across the face of goal.

It was Armstrong’s long ball that then gave Harding another half chance as his first time half volley whistled over from 20 yards – before Woodrow’s acrobatic effort again forced the best out of Marshallsay, as the keeper tipped the ball one handed over his crossbar.

The one way traffic continued as Harding miscued from eight yards with the goal at his mercy, and then Ben Aldred headed wastefully wide from another teasing Stanmore corner.

Former Herbie player Shane Walsh was next to be denied by Marshallsay, who blocked his angled shot before again smothering Woodrow’s follow up, and at the other end, Reid had a rare second half shooting oppotunity but fired high and wide from 20 yards.

But on 83 minutes – Bennett’s men finally had a third when Woodrow’s dinked pass found substitute Fawcett, and the youngster defied a tight angle to finish emphatically into the top corner.

There was still time for more Marshallsay heroics as Woodrow met Fawcett’s cross with a powerful header, only to be frustrated again by another one handed save by the Herbie keeper.

But it is Bennett’s men who are now one win away from a sixth straight Joe Lennon title, and Hakin will play the winners of Milford United and Milford Athletic who meet this Friday, July 28th at The Obs, 6pm kick off – with the final being held on Friday, August 4th.

Hakin United: Adrian Devonald, Ben Steele, Dan Armstrong, Ben Aldred, Bradley Barrett, Ryan Wilson, Craig Nicholson, James Stanmore, Adam John, Nicky Woodrow, Justin Harding.

Subs: Ryan Mansell, Ben Fawcett, Shane Walsh, Alex Greenish, Ali Ouzman

Herbrandston: Gareth Marshallsay, Sean Williams, Shaun Gelona, Adrian Rees, Ryan Davies, Gareth Howells, Alex Jones, Mark Jones, Kyle Sutton, Lewis Nicholas, Scott Reid.

Subs: Jack Ackermann, Darren Devonald, Sean Thomas.

Referee: Bernie Armstrong.