A fantastic advert for the Bert Gaby Cup. Bert would have been proud. The Ship reached the semi-final following a classic Sunday league cup-tie that twisted and turned and ultimately saw the Division One side conquer their opponents who are flying high in division below. Injuries, birthdays and holidays in Barbados meant Hurrey had to ring the changes with Digger doning the greens, Chris getting a long overdue start on the left and (forget Keane, Henry and Scholes) Jon Bignell was brought back into the fold to bolster the midfield. Before kick-off, Hurrey reminded the side that it was Judgement January and also dropped the bombshell that he would be (gasp) making substitutions... Cue much mocking. However, the inspirational team-talk clearly had the right effect as the opening 15 minutes saw the Ship play Barcelona-esque(well, -ish) style football which saw them camped in the Dulwich half and attacking with intricate and flowing moves. Chris G saw a trademark thunderbolt blocked and Alex fired just over, but the lack of a cutting edge to their superb approach play cost them when they gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box and the Dulwich player casually dinked it over Digger's wall to give them a lead against the run of play. The Ship responded immediately and Jon B crashed a superb effort from 18 yards against the bar,Hurrey couldn't find a teammate with a cut-back following a strong run and Dan Boland saw a long-range, floated effort tipped round the post. Despite the deficit, players throughout the Ship side were playing out their skin and much of their play was starting from the back with the cultured boot of Adam Hurrey or the swashbuckling runs of Kev Follon. It was the latter who engineered the inevitable equaliser with a typical scruff of the neck job as he traded a one-two with Kieran on the right and provided a delicious cross from the by-line that was met brilliantly with a thumping diving header by Hurrey at the back-post. Hurrey was displaying an even more desperate first-touch than usual but fortunately his strike-partner Alex was having his best game of the season so far and was a constant thorn in the Dulwich side, flourishing with the two Chris's linking up superbly with him. The Ship's tails were up at the break but nerves were there that they weren't able to convert their dominance into a lead. The Ship knocked at the door for most of the second half but Dulwich looked dangerous on the break and what looked like a hammer-blow was dealt with just 15 minutes left as the otherwise exceptional Jon Bignell felled a Dulwich forward in the box to hand them a chance to nick the tie. The penalty was dispatched with ease and the Ship were suddenly rocking. Hurrey reacted immediately and switched to a more attacking 3-5-2 in a move that was to be a crucial flash of tactical genius (ahem). The Ship chipped away at the opposition as corner after corner and crosses rained in on the opponents. But it was a stroke of well earned luck that handed the Ship their lifeline with a little less than 10 minutes left. Hurrey battled well to poke a ball to Kieran who took the responsibility to drive forward and unleash a 30 yard effort that wickedly deflected past a statuesque keeper. Cue wild celebrations and a steely determination to finish the game before the Spurs v City match on Sky. Up stepped the Ship's talismanic, Ballotelli-like striker Alex. A quick throw from Kieran found him on the edge of the box with the clock ticking down and a superb turn and shift inside saw him loop a gorgeous shot in under the bar to seal a famous cup quarter-final win. A cracking game and one that the Ship definitely deserved to win. Excellent performances all over the pitch from the usual suspects but it was the returning Jon Bignell who pipped Alex and walked away with the man of the match following an industrious and dominant midfield display that even the foul for the penalty couldn't tarnish. The Ship now find themselves as clear favourites in the league's Johnstone Paints Trophy/Intertoto equivalent cup but plenty still to do before they can seal a second successive cup final appearance.
