TAUNTON Vale’s Under-18s boys are through to the final of the England Hockey Knock-Out Plate competition following a tremendous victory at home to Saffron Waldon on Sunday. 

Over 120 supporters watched on as Vale took the early lead with a goal from Elliot Fathers in the first 10 minutes.

However Saffron came back strong, scoring two short corners to enter the second half with a 2-1 lead.

Quickly into the second half, the Essex boys scored again making it 3-1 to the visitors.

However, Vale did not allow their heads to drop and, led ably by their captain, Jordan Symes, the fight was on to get back in the game.

With an almighty spark of determination, Taunton dug deep and Sam Whitefield buried a short corner into the net.

Michael Nicholson followed quickly with another to make it 3-3 with 15 minutes to go.

Saffron upped the ante in the hope their five-hour bus journey was not wasted.

They peppered keeper Miles Cave with the ball, who made some heroic saves but, at the 55-minute mark, Saffron managed to squeeze in a fourth goal.

With 10 minutes to go, the mighty Vale pulled out all the stops and gave everything they had to clinch an equaliser.

With just minutes remaining, Michael Nicholson struck in his second short corner of the game to grab Vale’s deserved 4-4 equaliser and take the game to penalty flicks.

Saffron scored their first flick and so did Vale, courtesy of Michael Nicholson once more.

Keeper Miles Cave made an excellent save to give Vale a chance to lead, which Sam Whitefield casually took to give the home side a 2-1 lead.

Saffron then scored their second flick but Stuie Rushmere sent the keeper the wrong way.

Man-of-the-match Cave struck again by making a cracking save to deny the visitors.

This left Elliot Fathers to step up to win the game for Vale as he coolly picked his spot and scored the winner, sending Vale into the National Plate Final.

Taunton Vale now travel to the Lee Valley National Hockey Centre, situated in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where they will face Stourport HC on Monday, May 2.

The club are planning to fill a bus load of supporters for this momentous occasion to travel to London on the May Day Bank Holiday weekend - contact tauntonhockey.com