Everton have moved into the Semi-Finals of the Carling Cup after victory at Upton Park. This is the first time we have been in any semi since 1995. Everton were a goal down after 12 minutes, but fought back to win 2-1. The first goal by Ossie was a beauty after great work from Peanuts. When the game looked to be heading for extra time, The Yak struck to send the travelling fans into raptures. Is this the best time to be an Evertonian?

The draw for the Semi -Finals will be on Wed 19th Dec 2007
The 1st leg will be played w/c 7th Jan 2008
The 2nd leg will be played w/c 21st Jan 2008

It's been a long time, been a long time, been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely..............time. Sang Robert Plant (and his mate 'Percy') at the Led Zeppelin reunion in the Smoke this week, a long time? Don't we know it. A long time since we had been in a Milk Cup semi, 1988 was the last time when the Arse dumped us out of the Cup and it's been a long time since we have been beaten, that was ten games ago against the shite and their mate Mr Cluttenburgbastard.

So we went to the Boleyn Ground with our peckers up, on paper it looked a stiff one against the 'appy 'ammers but spirts were high and we were definitely up for this one. Yes we were up for it at Upton Park alright, the support was as good as ever, thousands of Toffeemen cheering the Blues on, our expectations were high particularly when we saw the team and the bench.

There was no doubt here that Moyesy was going for the win and hopefully without penalties given our recent record! He made just the one change with The Jag purring in for Bainesy who is now out until after Crimbo with a hamstring problem. The 'ammers were up for it too and played a full strength side but it is when you look at our bench these days you see how far we've now come, Hibbo, Tommy, Big Vic and AJ showed we now have strength in the squad.

We were fumbling around in the dark 15 mins before kick off when the lights went out and on occasions the lights do have to go out before the action begins but Sparky rooted in his toolbox, found a big one, slipped it in and everyone had a smile on their face as the action began.

We got down to business early on, a shot by Cars, a couple of testing corners from Out Tater and Stevie P just failed to complete a mazy run into the box. So it was against the run of play that West Ham went in front, it was route one, the bloke who turned down the shite launched a long ball from inside his own half, Roger lost his man and as the ball bounced and Cole drew Timmy he was on his own to just slide it in nicely and put them one up.

It was a sign of how we have progress in our reaction to going one down. We were straight back up and at them and we were without doubt the better team in the first half, we had already gone close with efforts by Stevie P, Timmy and Tater, plus a strong penalty claim before we went level. And what a goal it was!

Cars found Stevie P on the right, he weaved a bit of magic before finding Ossy who slotted it in nicely with a shot from outside the box, low and just inside the left hand post, it was a belter. The Toffeemen went wild, we knew it was coming and when it did, what a celebration, I thought my head was about to explode, it nearly did.

So we went it level at the break, if anything feeling a bit hard done by as we had been the better side and could well have gone in a couple in front, it was looking encouraging, Moyesy had that determined smile on his face. We knew though that we did not want to let it go to penalties so we needed to finish them off in the next 45 mins.

HALF TIME West Ham 1 EVERTON 1

The second half was a cagey affair with neither goalie being tested. They had a penalty claim turned down early on and there were efforts from Timmy and The Yak as we pushed on and tried to win it. We also looked strong at the back and the home fans were getting edgy as the clock ticked on.

It looked as if it was going into extra time, calls were being made to the missus, 'make that 3am luv it looks like an extra 30 mins and even penalties'. Just when we thought it was going softly towards a draw up stepped The Yak, fresh from his Yaktrick on Saturday he had saved himself until when it mattered. Harry Hill was involved again, having seen the 'ammers go ahead with a long punt he tried the same, Cars launched a long ball from inside his own half, the Yak chased between two defenders as the keeper came out. The defender got there first and headed back but the keeper let it slip through his hands, The Yak was on to it and tapped it in from close range. Just injury time to go, the place went mental.

They huffed and puffed but we were never in any danger, we saw the time out and the whistle went, we'd done it. Into the last four for the first time since 1988, I phoned the missus back, 'no extra time luv, but keep awake as I can feel a semi coming on!' Narf, narf.

Great result, great team performance with loads of good performances, Peanuts, Timmy, Joey, The Jag, Ossy the whole team played well, particularly in the first half. My Blue Kipper Star Man goes to the unsung hero of recent weeks, he does a great job in breaking down the opposition attacks and setting up our own, he had a hand in both goals tonight, Harry Hill. Well done the Toffeemen, Wembley here we come, Tell me ma, me ma............ COYB FTRS.

FULL TIME West Ham 1 EVERTON 2

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