History writing is becoming second nature to this Northgate squad, and in a week where genuine world historical events were shaking the world, Northgate lined up for their first ever semi-final.

The Col Smith Cup has never been a happy hunting ground for Clark's men in the past, winning just 2 of their previous 10 matches in the competition since forming in 2017. But this season is different. Having drawn the opening game of the season 2-2 against fellow promoted side Warrington Ambassadors, Northgate won their next CS Cup games 3-1, 7-1 to finish top of their group. Then a famous 2-0 win against high flying Spacious Place Yellow in the Quarter Final set up the first semi-final in their 5 year history.

Two weeks on from that battling performance, Vinelife, another hot-shot Division 1 team travelled to Chester in an attempt to breach the Tangerine Fortress.

Northgate's home form has been nothing short of exceptional this season; winning 8/9 games and scoring 36 goals in the process. 14 consecutive wins meant that confidence was sky high and with Clark able to name a ridiculously talented squad of 16, the feeling was that reaching the final was almost a given.

After his MOTM performance in the Quarter Final, James Sharrock remained in goal behind a back 3 of Garnett, Holden and Pedder - replacing Clark as he continues to rest his calf injury. Campbell and Mercer started at wing backs, with Jafrate, Hornby and Danny Jones in the centre of the park behind Dom Ward and Cam Nuttall leading the line.

Confidence was beginning to flirt with complacency in the opening stages as Northgate struggled to get a foot on the ball and took a while to settle into the game. Vinelife were spreading the ball across the midfield and finding their target man up front but couldn't get past the Northgate defence to trouble Sharrock in goal.

As the first half grew on and both teams began to get a feel for each other and the conditions, Northgate grew more into it and got openings of their own. Hornby and Jafrate were combining well in the middle, Mercer was marauding down the right and Nuttall was loving a good physical battle with the defenders. Campbell and Ward were flying down the other side as well, with the striker almost latching onto a couple of excellent crosses from Mercer and Garnett but ultimately was unable to control the ball.

The closest either side came to scoring in the opening 45 was the visitors hitting the bar after a free-kick was recycled and Vinelife attempted to lob the goalkeeper, but otherwise the half ran out very even.

Clark demanded patience from his squad, assuring them that goals will come if they keep their discipline in defence and their intensity high all over the pitch. With a strong bench to change things up and only one change made so far, the 11 went back out knowing the work rate needed to remain high.

10 minutes into the half, Mercer got a heavy set of studs planted into his foot and came off after an excellent shift down the right, and Matt Ward was introduced allowing Campbell to move over to his favoured right hand side. Soon after, the Northgate midfielder scored his 20th goal for the club in 61 appearances, confidently despatching a penalty that was well won by Dom Ward running directly at goal.

Ben Jafrate was the next to make way after a brilliant 60 minutes of breaking up play and passing the ball, and Luke White came on to reinvigorate the midfield for a potentially difficult last half an hour. As much as White will claim responsibility for the events of the next 15 minutes, he was not involved in any more goals.

Nuttall and Dom Ward were linking up beautifully up front all game, and the finest moment came as Northgate broke down the left flank. A flick from Nuttall came inside and Ward obliged with the one-two and Nuttall took just two touches - one to advance towards the box, and one to slot home into the bottom corner - to double his side's lead and give Northgate a cushion to go forward from.

In a move opposite to the Spice Girls' 1996 hit, two became three soon after for Northgate as Alex Owen - introduced up front in a switch around as Dom Ward moved into midfield replacing Williams - finished easily from close range after a lovely ball in from Matt Ward on the left. If Northgate's record goalscorer's 69th goal wasn't enough to put the game to bed, the Cam Nuttall's 2nd was. Hornby's 8th assist of the season found the Man Of The Match winner down the right and he faked to shoot twice before pulling the trigger and firing low into the bottom corner of the goal.

A record attendance at The Tangerine Fortress of 14 was there to see the jubilant scenes as Northgate comfortably saw out the game and left them with the following statistics:

15 wins in a row
61 goals scored
12 goals conceded.
0 trophies won.

We caught up with manager Jonny Clark after the game to ask him about those figures after the game:

Jonny, a tremendous result and a first Cup Final for Northgate. Can you sum up how it feels?

"It's brilliant, it's a good day for the club and all the players and fans, but this isn't the target. The target is to win trophies and as it stands we don't have any. We have 7 weeks to prepare for the Cup Final - and we will prepare for it - but immediately we turn our focus back to the league and trying to secure that as soon as possible."

Do you think you'll be able to keep minds focussed on the league game, especially if they're dead rubbers, with such a big game looming in the future?

"Of course. It's what we've done since September. We're full of confidence and in a habit of winning games. There are no dead rubbers even when the league is won. Players will be playing for places in that Cup Final and will be desperate to go into it full of form."

How do you respond to whispers of going for the Treble with the Martin Betton Cup also up for grabs?

"We'll keep our eyes on the next game, looking one match at a time. But yes, given the run we are on, why not aim for the Treble? We are 2, maybe 3 wins away from the League Title. We are 1 game away from a Cup trophy. But still 3 tough games away from the Martin Betton Cup. There is a lot of football to be played. A lot of battles to be won. There is much to be excited about, but as I say to my team every single week - we go through the same processes, keep it simple, and win each game as it comes.

MAN OF THE MATCH - Cameron Nuttall