Hallen will certainly have the proverbial mountain to climb if they are to achieve their ultimate dream of a place at Wembley Stadium in the Isuzu FA Vase Final after a disappointing 3-0 home defeat in Saturday’s Semi-Final First Leg against Velocity Wessex League Premier Division leaders AFC Stoneham from Hampshire.

They couldn’t have envisaged a worse start than to fall behind after just 13 minutes but it was not the first time they had conceded an early goal - they did so in the quarter final against West Didsbury & Chorlton before fighting back. However, this time to visitors extended their lead on 24 minutes and took a firm grip on the tie with a third strike before half time.

Hallen will take heart that there was no further damage and will go into this weekend’s second leg at Stoneham having to recover a three-goal deficit, which will be a daunting - but not impossible - prospect.

The other semi-final is much more evenly balanced as Spartan South Midlands League side Cockfosters scored a late equaliser against Southern Counties East League Punjab United to earn a 1-1 draw. The second leg will take place at Gravesend in Kent on Saturday afternoon with a date at Wembley at stake.