The FA Trophy semi-finals happen over the next two weekends, and all the upsets are over as it's 4 Conference teams playing off for the place at Wembley for the final.
Chasetown took Mansfield Town to a replay before a 3-1 defeat saw them bow out, and Mansfield now face Luton Town in the first semi final, with the first leg this Friday at Mansfield. Luton are rightly the favourites to win the trophy, as they currently sit 3rd in the Conference and seem fairly certain of a promotion playoff place for the second straight year, whereas Mansfield are currently 13th. In their one meeting so far this season, back in September Luton won 2-0.
Both teams have previously won trophies at Wembley, Mansfield won the 1987 Freight Rover trophy (now the Johnstone's Paint Trophy) after a penalty shootout against Bristol City. Luton have made it to Wembley finals 5 times, losing the FA Cup final in 1959, as well as the League Cup final in 1989, and the short lived Simod Cup in 1988. They won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in 2009, the same year they were relegated to the Conference mainly due to a huge 30 point deduction for financial problems. Most famously of course they won the League Cup final against Arsenal in 1988, a late comeback sealing a 3-2 victory, which you can see the highlights of here. Luton were the underdogs that day, but if they make the final they'll be the prohibitive favourites, quite frankly they're too good and too big of a team to be at the non-league level much longer.
The other semi final is a North Eastern Derby with Gateshead, winners over their local rivals Blyth Spartans playing against everyone's heroes Darlington, the first leg at Darlo on Saturday. The teams have played twice this year, Darlington winning 2-0 at home in August, and then just this Tuesday they drew 2-2 in Gateshead, Darlington letting in an injury time goal, throwing away points in that fashion for the 5th time this year.
Gateshead are currently 12th while Darlington sit in 8th after a good recent run that has them eyeing a playoff place. They are unbeaten in 9 games in all competitions since a 4-0 defeat to Luton, though any feel good factor is deflated somewhat by their precarious financial position, with a "help save your club" season ticket appeal being launched to try and take advantage of the extra crowds expected for the semi-final matchup.
The Wembley final is a very big prize for both these teams, Gateshead have never been to Wembley, so will be making history just by making the final. Darlington have just two losing division 4 playoff finals, 1996 and 2000, at the old Wembley in their history, and while it would be nice to get back there and hopefully win something, the economic benefits of qualifying for the final will probably be the most important factor for them. With Chairman Raj Singh putting out an appeal to get the season ticket base up to 2,000 adult season tickets (currently there are 1,200 and that's including children and other concessions) it's going to need something big like the chance of a Wembley final to get the locals energised and willing to give the club another chance. If it's not just a slightly desperate, blackmail based sales pitch, then without those numbers Singh is likely to walk away from the club, putting it's entire existence in jeapordy, so Darlo have a bit more than a fun day out and shiny trophy to be playing for.
Prediction time, I maintained my 75% success rate in the quarter finals, getting 3 out of the 4 ties correct. In the semis, Luton will use the Stag's antlers as a hat stand, and easily make the final, and Darlington will just squeak past Gateshead.
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