Bostik North play-off semi-final: Haringey Borough 2 Heybridge Swifts 0

Haringey Borough secured their spot in the Bostik North play-off final as Jorge Djass-Sambu picked the perfect time to score his first brace of the season to help defeat Heybridge Swifts 2-0 at Coles Park last night.

This was the fourth meeting between the clubs in the 2017/18 term and finally Tom Loizou’s men got the better of the Essex outfit.

Borough had been sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Valery Pajetet, defender Rakim Richards and attacker Anthony McDonald in the build-up to the match, but all three were included from the off despite suffering injuries on Saturday.

And it was Haringey who started the better of the two sides, as McDonald saw a headed effort hit the crossbar in the 11th minute from Lauren Luke’s cross.

Minutes later and the hosts threatened again when Ralston Gabriel headed towards goal, but Ahmed Abdulla got back to clear off the line.

Borough had been pushing for the opening goal and it arrived with 21 on the clock and came via of an unlikely source.

The ball dropped for Djassi-Sambu and he showed supreme footwork inside the area to work an opening and fire home for just his third goal of the season.

Haringey had the advantage now and weren’t prepared to let it slip as they produced a resolute defensive display.

Swifts did threaten just before half time when Juan Luque curled a shot towards goal, but Pajetet got across well to deny him and it remained 1-0 at the interval.

Jody Brown’s team began the second period strongly and Kreshnic Krasniqi cut inside and forced Haringey’s goalkeeper into another save.

Joe Gardner was next to go close for the visitors in front of a crowd of 442 spectators, but Borough responded excellently.

The game was end-to-end now with the second goal likely to be decisive and it went to the north Londoners.

A corner into the area found Djassi-Sambu and his towering header managed to find the net in the 71st minute.

Having scored only twice during the regular season, the Haringey midfielder had now doubled his tally for the campaign in the club’s most important game of the term.

Swifts pushed for a route back into the game and Matt Price and Luque had chances, but they came to nothing and it finished 2-0 to give Borough and their supporters a memorable victory in an already fantastic season.

Canvey Island defeated Bowers & Pitsea in the other play-off semi-final on the night and so the final will take place at Coles Park on Sunday (3pm).

Haringey Borough: Pajetet; Olufemi, Richards, Kirby, O’Donoghue; Djassi-Sambu, Stone, Luke (Asamoah 34, Ademiluyi 79); McDonald, McCollin (McKenzie 84), Gabriel.

Unused substitutes: Byfield, Mitchell.

Attendance: 442.