Vs. Benbow (H)
Starting XI	Substitutes:
Simon Cutler
Steve Chapman
Pete Cooper
Gary Williams
Darrell Hartley
Paul Ford	(65 Gary Walsh)
Andy Mills (c)
Adrian Gaylon	(15 Chris Mammone)
Dave Mills	(86 Dom Fowler)
Adam Johnson
Tom Frere-Smith
Referee: D Milton
Goals: Frere-Smith (4,35)
HT Score: 2-3
FT Score: 2-5

In atrocious playing conditions Battle fell at the semi-final stage to a Benbow side that played the conditions better on the day.

The game only went ahead after sterling pitchfork work from Messers Ahsam, Nunn and Mumford but their good work was almost undone when the rain came down heavier than before only half an hour before kick-off. Despite this, the referee passed the pitch playable and the game was on.

It was a dramatic opening to the game as three goals were scored in the first eight minutes. The home side made a perfect start when top-scorer Tom Frere-Smith powered down the left flank before driving the ball across the keeper and into the bottom corner. Two minutes later and Benbow were level when a cross from the right deflected off Gary Williams and squirmed past Simon Cutler and just over the line. Another two minutes passed and another goal came as a half-cleared corner was driven back in and diverted past the helpless Cutler.

The game then settled down after such an explosive start, with the pitch already starting to carve up under foot. Adrian Gaylon was injured when stretching for the ball in midfield and was replaced by Chris Mammone, who settled in quickly and had a superb game at right-back. On the quarter hour Benbow clipped the crossbar with a rasping 25-yard drive.

Benbow then headed a deep free-kick wide as a shell-shocked home side struggled to get possession. A foul on Frere-Smith earned a free kick that was floated in by Pete Cooper but everyone missed it as they piled in at the far post and it sailed out for a goal kick.

On the half hour mark Benbow extended their lead. A deep free kick was dipping just under the bar and as Cutler punched it away it went straight to the Benbow striker who had the simple task of heading it in for 3-1.

Five minutes later and Battle were back in it as Adam Johnson dropped back into midfield to pick the ball up and play it over the top for Frere-Smith to run onto to. Frere-Smith comfortably outstripped the visiting defence and calmly slipped the ball past the keeper.

Battle then had two scares just before halftime. First a goal for Benbow was chalked off when the referee ruled the cross had gone out of play before it was headed in, and then Cutler pushed a free-kick onto the bar.

The second half started in a similar vein to the first with Benbow heading in a corner only a minute in. As the home side tried to get the ball forward it was Benbow who were looking the more threatening, with Cutler and his defence doing well to keep the scoring down. On the attacking front, good runs from Johnson and Cooper came to nothing as the away side defending well on the testing surface.

Three Benbow players were booked in the first twenty minutes of the half, two for repetitive fouling and one for bad language before returning player-manager Gary Walsh entered the fray for Paul Ford.

Some good blocks from Mills, Mammone and Cooper and two smart low stops from Cutler kept Battle in the tie before a goal ten minutes from time sealed the match. Again it was from a set-piece as the visitors headed in another corner.

Dom Fowler came on for Dave Mills with five minutes to go, but the result was already determined as Benbow deserved their victory and a final appearance.