We're off to Wembley! - Penalty shoot out Mark 2

Last time the Taroona juggernaut went to Prince of Wales Bay the game was a scrappy, aerial rebound match - which was lost 2-3. This time the game was scrappy, aerial rebound match but the result was much sweeter. Master Coach Geoff called for his charges to include more or the key ingredient - mental toughness under pressure. He called on his team to ignore their opponent's pushing and shoving - and to focus on the ball.

The game started promisingly - Taroona attacked and attacked - Geoff had identified the Knight's Goalkeeper's propensity to grasp the ball on the second grab and instructed his charges to be near the fall of the ball. Then the game descended to the scrappy, kick for kick dish we saw last time we were there. In the shadows of half time the Knights snuck behind the Taroona wall to go one up.

Master Coach Geoff plotted revenge and not long into the second half Mat Etherington headed the equaliser. This being the Knock Out Cup semi final a penalty shoot-out loomed.

When the whistle blew it was one-all. On the last visit the refereeing was nothing to write home about. This time the refereeing was spot on - even a yellow card was shown to a Knight who would have been free kicked on the MCG for his well executed push in the back.

Here the planning from Master Coach Geoff to concentrate today on mental toughness was rewarded. Taroona had the first penalty. It was like a scene from one of those sporting movies - the crowd was silent, the picture became black and white and the motion was slow. The aerospace engineer Joe Atkinson struck - but his parry was defended by the Knight's keeper. Joe considered his calculations and saw no reason why he hadn't scored. But the Ref did - he saw the keeper move before the kick was taken. He called for the penalty to be taken again and after some quick recalculations in it went.

Joey is known to this column as Joey the Imposing - crouching legs and arms astride he makes a formidable stopper. The first Glenorchy kick went high - and Joey had defended without needing to touch the ball. Up stepped James the artist Cherry - it hadnt been a great day. Forgetting his shorts led to some wardrobe machinations on the sideline as the Taroona boys shared those available. When he was brought on mid way through the first half, still ill from the day before, he added some strength to the mid field - weakened though he was. At the penalty spot James struck but missed his mark. The next Glenorchy shot went wide of the goal. Joey the Imposing then imposed himself even more notably on the result by putting the next Taroona shot in. Then he stopped a rocket from Glenorchy. All the pressure then fell on Liam Own Boots O'Donovan - he calmly put the next in and it was all over. Taroona won the shoot out, the semi final and the honours.

The Cup final is scheduled for August 29 - the day after the last roster match. The opponent - South Hobart - who again put 6 goals in yesterday in the other semi.

What will Master Coach Geoff pull from the larder this time?