In a lively elimination semi-final at Luddenham Oval, the home side advanced to fight another day after defeating Roosters 3-2. Luddenham coach, Andrew Montgomery was beaming after the game and remembering that Roosters had beaten his side twice during the regular season, insisted that - "it was just desire that got us over the line" - and that they did with some cracking goals!

However, on the way it was tough and United almost put the ball into their own net when Ivan Bazina’s headed clearance from a dangerous Roosters cross from the right struck the crossbar to rebound out into a melee of players but unfortunately for Roosters, nobody was at hand to pick up the crumbs.

The home side gradually started asserting itself and Saula Matayab of Luddenham just headed over in the 36th minute and teammate Chris Johnson fired a shot wide from the edge of the box in the last minute of the half.

United began the second stanza just how they had finished and after only 2 minutes, Angelo Martino struck a swerving freekick from outside the box which curled around the Roosters wall and squeezed just inside the post and outstretched hand of Roosters reserve keeper Ununlar.

The goal spurred Roosters into action and Chris Jazrani and Gurkan Girgin attacked the United goal from the wings superbly. The equalizer finally came in the 53rd minute from a corner which sailed over the Luddenham defence to Mustafa Ayvaz who volleyed into goal from point blank range.

In the 65th minute, Daniel Farre came on for Luddenham and only 2 minutes later his name was on the scoresheet when he connected well off a corner from the left to head a cracker into the back of the net which had the vocal and decent-sized crowd leaping out of their seats!

The game was wrapped up in the 86th minute after a great passing movement which began just inside the United half when Michael Wood pounced on a loose ball and was off down the right wing. He made a fine pass inside to Angelo Martino who played a one touch to a waiting Saula Matayab in an acre of space to slot home United’s third. Someone from the Luddenham bench even joked he had time to have a cup of tea before scoring!

With time ticking away, Roosters pulled one back when Adem Taslak scored from an Ozan Gogebakan cross and if more time was on hand, it would have been a very exciting finish but no sooner had Luddenham kicked off again than the referee was blowing full time to the cheers of an ecstatic home crowd!

OTHER results: GRADE 20: Belmore Hercules 2 - Roosters FC 1; PRELIMINARY SEMI FINALS: FIRST GRADE: Fairfield Wanderers 2 (J Hurtado Pachec 54m M Sanchez 81m) - Hurstville City Minotaurs 3 (S Stevoski 14m M Goumis 43m M Di Meglio 61m); GRADE 20: Fairfield Wanderers 3 - Hurstville City Minotaurs 0