WINGATE & Finchley produced a superb fightback to overturn a second-half deficit and reach the League Cup Final with a 2-1 victory over Maldon & Tiptree, writes Paul Lerman.

With four red cards in the recent league meeting between the sides, this was likely to be a tempestuous affair.

However the game was played in good spirits and only a handful of yellows were brandished.

Manager Dave Norman said: “I’m very pleased to reach the final, especially via the route of playing teams of such good quality.

“I'm pleased for the players, the supporters and the chairman, however there is still the last hurdle to overcome and let's not forget that nobody remembers second place so we'll be very focused on the night.”

It was the visitors who controlled possession in the first half, though for all their patient build-up play Wingate matched them for chances with quick counter-attacks.

Maldon's Mike Deane latched on to a low through ball and promptly rounded keeper Dan Lee, but having been forced wide before shooting Daniel Nielsen had just enough time to track back and slide the ball off the line.

The Blues' first chance came at the end of a deep arrowing cross from the left wing, and Josh Cooper stabbed a toe to turn the ball goalward but the keeper held on well.

Maldon always looked dangerous from set pieces, and Jack Haverson thought he had scored in first half stoppage time with a header from a floated free kick but he unluckily hit the post. Wingate then flew straight to the other end of the pitch as Leon Smith broke clear, but his resulting effort was well charged down by the keeper from a tight angle.

Maldon took the lead five minutes after the break. Another dangerous free kick out wide was whipped in to the box, and a defensive header diverted the ball into the far corner of the net.

Almost immediately the Blues hit back. Cooper was fouled centrally on the edge of the area and Joe O'Brien confidently drilled the free kick beyond the helpless keeper into the bottom right corner.

Having been pegged back Maldon then rued their bad luck once again. Haverson won another header from a crossed set-piece and Dan Lee brilliantly tipped the ball on to the post and saw the follow-up shot hooked wide.

However it was Wingate & Finchley who scored next with what would turn out to be the winning goal in the 62nd minute. A chipped ball was played forward to Smith who headed it twice to be able to play in O'Brien inside the box. The midfielder swung with his left foot at the ball and his shot hit the keeper but bounced towards goal and spun kindly in off the post.

Wingate defended resolutely from here and Maldon never got close again to testing Lee for the rest of the tie. A third goal nearly followed for the hosts when Dave Laird fed through Smith on a counter attack but he only found the side netting.

A testing final against Dulwich Hamlet awaits for Wingate & Finchley on March 30, with the venue still to be confirmed.