Combining the talents of some of that men's team with those of some of the Worthing Women's team who won the Sussex Plate at Lewes last month, the club have reached the last four of the EH Mixed Plate.

They pulled off a shock win in extra-time drama, away to highly-fancied and upper-rated Wisbech Town,and will now travel on June 21 to Bowden HC in Altrincham, Cheshire, for a concluding weekend of hockey. They will play a semi-final, then either the final or the 3rd-4th Play-off on the Sunday.

That is not something anyone dared predict before Sunday's quarter-final, not even during it, after Andie Chambers slotted Worthing ahead following Dan Ginnaw's fine run down the right wing. Even less late in the game when Wisbech were leading 2-1, thanks to two short corners, one after the interval, the other 15 minutes from time.

Team captain David Edmondson became a father last summer so withdrew from regular 1st XI hockey this season and played for the 3rds. The season has been prolonged and he, one of the older members of the side but able to play almost anywhere, was orchestrating things from the sidelines as manager-substitute-tactician. He was now wondering in the heat of a sudden summer weekend in May just where his hero or heroine of the hour was going to come from.

The conditions required regular player rotation for rehydration and rest. Finally, it was getting late and it was suggested he come on himself. Therein came textbook demonstration of the concept of "impact player subbing". He equalised in the seven minutes play he was able to muster before being "rotated" off again.

A poorly-taken Wisbech 16-yard hit with just two minutes to go was gobbled up by James Godber, the only Worthing player to start but never be substituted. The centre-back threaded the pass into the D where Edmondson had ghosted in. The keeper blocked Edmondson's shot but it fell kindly for him to turn on that own peculiar style and take the ball to the side of the keeper and flick over him the equaliser.

The psychological blow of levelling so late swung the momentum Worthing's way. They spent the opening half of extra-time in Wisbech territory. Edmondson was by now back on when what happened in the third minute of the second period booked Worthing's Bowden ticket.

In a fine team move, Toni Catlow and Alex Warner linked. Sussex full-back Warner saw Edmondson's run to the left closed off, so waited for Edmondson to go off to the opposite post, then he fizzed his pass into the circle towards him.

Edmondson takes it up: "I just got the required glance, as if running a cricket ball down to third man, and as I turned I saw it fly into the far corner, along the deck, with the keeper unable to react. Cue wild celebrations."

Revelatory was the contribution of Amanda Kenn who was, at co-centre-back, the outstanding Worthing player after joining the game 15 minutes in. At the back, Worthing allowed Wisbech few open-play opportunities and conceded only five short corners, one of which brought a vital save from Chris Binns - who will retire after the men's play-off(s) this weekend.

Alas, Kenn may not be able to play in the finals but leading women's scorer, 40-goal Shelley Formstone is likely to be back after missing this game. Up front, her deputy was the versatile Beth Warner, who made the most of what little possession Worthing could manage to feed in to her during normal time.

WORTHING: Chris Binns; James Godber, Emma Cannell; David Clayton, Alex Warner, Dan Ginnaw; Andrea Catlow, Kirsty Pickett; Chris Sciandro, Andie Chambers, Beth Warner. Subs: Toni Catlow, Amanda Kenn, Jamie Luke, Matt Ansell, David Edmondson.
The rules require five outfield men and women at all times.

An early look at the Finals line-up

Worthing are drawn in their semi-final against Surrey team Riverside, a mixed-only club, who play at Purley Walcountians. Burton (on-Trent) clash with Chelmsford in the other semi.

Riverside opened in the Plate with a 9-1 win at home to Bracknell, then were drawn away each time. They had a walkover at Wimborne Wayfarers, won 2-1 at Leicester, then 5-2 at Shefford & Sandy.

Burton had to travel only once. After winning at home to West Bridgford Monarchs 5-3, they went to Lymm and got through 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Then back in Staffordshire they defeated Durham City 6-1, and edged past Bromley & Beckenham 4-3 in the last eight.

Chelmsford have reached the finals after being drawn at home every time, but they have needed to play only played twice. Long Sutton, then Andover pulled out of trips into Essex, then they beat Crostyx 6-2, and dismissed Redbridge & Ilford 6-1 in their quarter-final.

In the Plate, Worthing won 6-5 at Addiscombe in Croydon, then overcame Mixed Trophy specialists Phoenix 3-1 at St Andrew's, then Letchworth 5-4, also at home, before travelling triumphantly back from Wisbech in Cambridgeshire.

Of the four Plate semi-finalists, Worthing gave the best account of themselves in their Trophy exit. They went out 4-2 at Henley.

But Burton and Riverside both went out of the Trophy away to eventual semi-finalists. Burton lost 9-0 at Cannock and Riverside 9-2 at Staines. Chelmsford lost 3-0 at Sutton Valance in Kent, who scratched to Slough in the last 32.

The Trophy semi-finals are Eastcote v Spencer, Staines v Cannock.

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