Carlos Septus slots home the winner for the Islanders in the 3-2 victory over the Ballstars to send his new team into next weekend's final. Photo:Charlie Jackson/VINO

Kenton James was onhand to net the equaliser and send the tie into extra time, taking advantage of uncertainity in the Ballstars defense. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Jario Morris heads his second and the Sugar Boys third during the 4-1 win over the Wolues in the othr semi final. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

It took the Islanders less than two minutes to open the scoring in the first semi-final played on the A.O.Shirley ground, but it wasn’t until the last three minutes of extra time that they finally secured their place in the final.

A mix up at the back between Maxcell Dabreo and Alvin St Ville saw the defender slice an attempted clearance into his own net under no pressure from any Islander’s player.

The goal did nothing to disrupt the intent of the Ballstars as they continued to press the Islanders back and they reaped a just reward when Jhon Samuel equalized on 14 minutes.

The goal of the game came in the second half and looked like it might be enough to send the Ballstars to the final. A skillful interchange of passes allowed Shamoy Thompson to cut inside his marker and he laid a sublime ball across the top of the penalty box for Nigel Chelemagne to fire home powerfully past the Islanders ‘keeper’, Shane Henry.

However, the Islanders are known to never give up and they piled forward searching for the equalizer, which was finally bundled home in the 83^rd minute by Kenton James as the Ballstars failed to clear their lines and allowed James to pounce from close range.

The goal sent the tie into extra time and although the Ballstars battled hard they were dealt a cruel decisive blow in the second half of extra time when inexplicably no wall was formed in front of a 22 yard free kick that was powerfully hit by Alex Greene. Maxcell Dabreo couldn’t hold onto the ball as it bounced awkwardly up and out of his hands. On hand to slide the ball home was Carlos Septus, once a Ballstar himself and now leading the Islanders attack.

“I felt good, I came out to play hard and try to do my best,” said Septus. “We started the game slowly, it was hard for us, but although I congratulate them I’m glad I scored the winner.”

“They played a good game,” commented Coach Lenroy “lefty” Henry “but on the day the better team won”.

The second semi final was put to bed early by the Sugar Boys, who went ahead courtesy of a Jario Morris Goal. Javon Wallace doubled the Sugar Boys lead before Rory Greenan gave the Wolues a glimmer of hope by reducing the deficit to just one.

In the second half though the Wolues were unable to cope with the pace and movement of the Boys and further goals from Morris and Everton Pereira rounded out the final score to 4-1.

Coach Jeffrey Demming has got his team playing what has so far been the best football in the competition and is relishing the final against the Islanders. Although he remained tight lipped about his plans for the match up he did let slip that “we will come with some secret surprises”.

As for the ease of the win, Demming noted, “we learnt from our mistakes in the 2^nd round and capitalized on it tonight. Towards the end we were able to give some younger players a run out and they did very well, especially Wheatley”.