DONNER UND BLITZ! Quite literally. It was semi-finals night, but at 7.30 the prospects for the most un-summer like summer tournament on record were not looking good. The rain was torrenting down in rivers and the pitch resembled a paddling pool.

Still, the BBC weather app (maintained by our own Simon Frampton, so I always trust what it says) was forecasting that it would be dry by 8pm. With unshakeable confidence in the prodigious draining properties of the Long Road surface, it was decided to push the start time back by 30 minutes and trust conditions would be playable.

And it turned out we were right to do so, for the rain stopped, the waters receded and lo, a dove appeared bearing a green olive leaf in its beak. Well, maybe not that last one. But anyway, we were game on.

And what cracking games they turned out to be. First on were the Plate semi-finalists, Average Joes taking on Cambridge North and TFI Thursday up against Southern Saints. The Joes, winless in their group games, came good at the right moment, Simon Frampton contributing a brace of goals as well as his rain-stopping powers to seal a 2-1 win.

At the other end, TFI Thursday were back to nearly full strength after last week's depleted numbers, and raced into a 3-1 half time lead over a more threadbare Southern Saints, adding another after half time to wrap up a solid 4-1 victory. The Southern Saints were so despondent that they all promptly disappeared without providing an umpire for the next game, which meant in a 3 goal penalty for a final score of 7-1.

Next up were the big boys - the Cup teams. Melbourn Outriders were fielding a bare 7 but still managed to take an early lead against St Ives 2, but St Ives came back to lead 2-1 at half time. The second half was goalless, and Melbourn were left to rue what might have been. On the other sider St Ives 1 performed a similar comeback feat, a goal down at half time but some excellent shooting after the break giving them 4 goals without reply.

So there we have it. Next week is FINALS WEEK! Games will start 10 minute earlier, at 7.35 and 20.15. First up will be the 3rd place play-off matches between the losing semi-finalists, followed by the Cup and Plate Finals.

There will then be a presentation of trophies to the winners, as well as awards for everyone, so don't miss it - early leavers will get nothing!