DUCKPOND 4

RAMSEY MILL 2

Wally Castle Trophy semi-final

DUCKPOND booked their place in the final and now face either AFC Pegusus or Feering United.

However, they had to do it the hard way after fighting back from two-down.

Ramsey made a bright start and Dominic Nea burst clear – only to be denied by a magnificent save from Duckpond player-manager Michael Hammond.

Duckpond failed to respond to the early pressure and Phil Charles powered home a header to give Ramsey a 1-0 lead.

Within minutes, they doubled their advantage through Chris Stratton.

Duckpond started the second half in determined mood and Matt Geen tormented Ramsey’s defence.

He won a free-kick that was converted by Liam Duly to kick-start a great comeback.

Dom Warren went close when his shot cannoned back off a post, but it was Geen who levelled when he fired home from 20 yards.

Having introduced John Duly and Tom Goldsmith, Duckpond piled on the pressure but the game went to extra-time.

A diving header from Geen broke Ramsey’s stubborn resistance, for his second goal of the match.

Then a great move saw the Harwich side’s skipper, Phil Taylor, take the ball from the halfway line and down the wing, beating Darryl Johnston.

He cut the ball back for Lee Timmins to rifle home goal number four, for a place in the final on May 24.

On Sunday, Duckpond take on FC Byair in the Charles Hewitt Memorial Knockout League Cup final at Alresford Colne Rangers.