Striker Neville Nelson was the goal hero with a stunning hat-trick as QEGS triumphed in the semi-final against Repton at Lammack.

His direct running and strength on the ball caused problems all afternoon for the Derbyshire school's defence as QEGS, competition winners in 1996 and 2001, emerged clear victors in a well-contested game.

Nelson opened the scoring after just three minutes, dispossessing a defender and bursting through to score with a powerful right foot shot. Repton recovered well from the early shock -- although wing-back Duggan had to clear a Nelson header off the line and 'keeper Bridgen tipped over a curling shot from Ryan Woods.

By half-time the game was very even, with few goalmouth chances for either side.

Five minutes into the second period Nelson struck again, beating two tackles while cutting into the area from the left and firing low past Bridgen. Home 'keeper Frank Fielding was forced into a good save to his right from the impressive Shimabukuro as the visitors responded, before Nelson clinched the game and his hat-trick 13 minutes into the second half.

This time, winger Nick Fielding made the break for QEGS. His cross-shot seemed to be going wide of the far post until Nelson, arriving late, steered the ball home left-footed from the narrowest of angles. Repton pressed, but continued to create little in the way of clear chances against a QEGS defence that has conceded only one goal in reaching the final. The fourth and last goal also had the hand of Nelson in it - literally, as his long throw into the area was touched back by Josh O'Keefe for centre-half Mark Fletcher to score via the underside of the bar.

A sizeable crowd gave a deserved ovation to both teams for a fine afternoon's entertainment. QEGS Master-in-charge Roger Davies must now set his teams sights on Leicester City's Walkers Stadium, where the Final will take place on Monday, March 8.

The other semi-final, between Brentwood School from Essex and Millfield School from Somerset, takes place next Wednesday, January 28.

QEGS: F Fielding, N Fielding, M. Fletcher, J Dunne, N Pearson, G Jones, M Grindrod (captain), R Woods, J O'Keefe, N Nelson. Subs: O Dent, R Benson, R Hawthornthwaite

REPTON: B Bridgen, B Smith, O Badger, Y Shimabukuro, M Brenchley, D Gordon (captain), T Parkinson, J Millensted, S Duggan, A Whiteley, M Pearson. Subs: A. Mace, J Parker, T Jenkins.

QEGS...4

Repton School...0