Hanwell booked their place in the London Senior Cup final after coming from a goal down to beat Isthmian League side Dulwich Hamlet.
The Geordies were looking to make their second final of the season after finishing as runners-up to Rayners Lane in the Middlesex Senior Cup made life difficult for themselves after falling behind to Aaron Williams-Bushell’s 13th minute strike.
Dan Carr equalised under 10 minutes later before second half goals from Taylor Miles and Callum Woodcock gave the Geordies a two-goal cushion.
Hanwell, though, never do things the easy way and Amauru Kaunda pulled a goal back in the fifth minute of stoppage time and survived a late corner to progress to the final where they will meet Brentford B.
Chris Moore shuffled his pack after the 3-0 defeat at Gosport on Saturday, with Chris Regis, Joe Waight, Alfie Pendlebury, Will Hall and Woodcock coming into the side. Joe Wilson, Mat Mackenzie, Elliot Benyon, Ryan Cole and Kameron English made way.
The Geordies needed time to get into the game against the step three strugglers with Regis missing an early chance inside the first three minutes and they found themselves 1-0 down when Dulwich broke down the left hand side and the ball found its way to Williams-Bushell who made no mistake from close range.
The goal woke Hanwell up and they started to play the football that secured their best season in the club’s history and found their equaliser midway through the first half. Waight was fouled but the referee played a superb advantage to allow Regis to break into the penalty area. He rolled the ball across to Carr who fired home the equaliser.
Hanwell looked to apply more pressure but it took until the 65th minute for it to tell as Roberto Nditi, a fantastic mid-season signing, broke down the right and, after Dulwich failed to clear their lines, Taylor Miles’ shot took a deflection on its way past Dylan Berry and into the net.
And, while Berry was blameless for Miles’ goal, his clearance seven minutes later fell straight to Woodcock. The Geordies midfielder fed Pendlebury whose shot was blocked but Woodcock was on hand to make it 3-1 and seemingly send Hanwell to the final.
Hanwell had the game under control and could have added more goals but were caught late on as Kaunda had a free header in the 95th minute to give Dulwich a lifeline with two minutes of additional time remaining.
The visitors threw the kitchen sink, forcing a corner. Berry advanced but as soon as Hanwell cleared the ball, the referee blew the final whistle to send the Geordies to the final, currently arranged for 29 April at Harrow Borough’s Earlsmead ground.
Before that, though, Hanwell are back at the Powerday Stadium on Easter Saturday when the Geordies entertain Taunton Town before making the short trip to Chertsey Town on Easter Monday.
Hanwell: Beasant, Nditi, Carr, Hall, Duncan, Seabrook, Miles, Woodcock, Pendlebury, Regis, Waight.
Subs not used: Cole, Giscombe, Wilson, English, Carter-Rogers.
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