Over the past two and a half months I'd venture to say that no SHBL team has played less football than us. This morning we were one of only 3 Border League games to beat the freezing weather and we took advantage to earn our 4th semi-final spot in as many seasons.

This was our first game in an SHBL competition since losing to Uni Strollers in the first week of November. It's nice to be back playing and it has been long overdue.

We knew very little about Woking Tigers as this was the first match between the two sides, but they have picked up some impressive results in their opening season in Division 1.

After an even start we took an early lead. Simon Grout won a free kick just outside the area and Luca Mortellaro found the bottom corner after firing through a Tigers wall that simply disintegrated.

Midway through the half Luca was gifted the ball in midfield and having driven at the defence, he laid off to Grouty who whipped a superb finish past the helpless keeper to double our lead.

Tigers had one great chance to pull one back, but they failed to work club legend Damian Lynch who was making a return in goal.

Then just before half time Luca won a free kick and saw his curling effort brilliantly tipped onto the post by the keeper. From the resulting corner Grouty headed home clinically from Luca's drilled delivery to effectively kill the game.

The 10 minutes after the interval were hectic. Tigers improved, but we were very unsettled defensively and they won a penalty via a Silvio Sorce handball a couple of minutes in. The spot kick was very accurate and it had to be as Damo guessed correctly and got finger tips to it, but it found the bottom corner.

Straight from kick off we got back on the front foot and won a throw in down our right deep in their half. James Simpson and Adam Miles combined, before the latter's low cross evaded everyone, finding Zak Whitelock at the back post who poached his 2nd goal for the club.

Tigers were in determined mood and they came straight back at us, winning a corner immediately. Although we cleared the initial cross, it was looped back into the area where they headed to the back post for a simple finish and 4-2.

Soon after this Damo made a crucial save from a one on one and thankfully Jay had swept up behind him to clear the bouncing ball away off the line. This was to be Tigers chance to get back in the game.

A few minutes later Oli Cochrane won the ball in midfield and fed Joe Stevens who ran past his man before being clipped in the area to win a penalty. Joey's penalty was not the best, but it didn't matter as it slipped past the keeper.

It really should have been 6-2 late on when Joey prodded home from Giles Smith's set piece, but he was denied by a frankly astonishingly bad offside call.

Given the lack of football we have played this was a top result to get us into another semi-final. Some of the squyad haven't played in over 2 months, but to be fair it only really showed in our final pass or delivery. Our finishing, however, was relatively clinical as we scored 5 in a game for the first time this season.

Most importantly we are back playing football and we have a lot of games to look forward to in 3 competitions.

MoM: Luca - a goal and 2 assists in an all round classy showing.

Thanks to those who ran the line and those who filmed.