Lucky, lucky, lucky.
That was how Caversham coach Richard Murray was feeling after his side drew another Chatham Cup home fixture.
The South Dunedin club will host Lower Hutt City in a semifinal at the Caledonian on August 5, and in doing so avoid traditional heavyweights Miramar Rangers and Central United.
It is the third slice of good fortune for Caversham. The club hosted talented Christchurch side Cashmere Technical at Tonga Park in the fourth round, and then drew third-tier Northern League side Manukau City for a home quarterfinal.
If the club could have picked its semifinal opponent it would have asked for "Lower Hutt City at home, please".
"It is massive," Murray said.
"It does not matter too much who you play but you want to play them at home. Lower Hutt will be pleased, as well, because they would have wanted to avoid Miramar and Central."
Miramar dispatched Dunedin Technical 5-1 in the quarterfinals and Central reached the final four with a 2-0 victory against Eastern Suburbs.
Arguably, they are the two strongest teams remainingin the tournament.
Caversham has had no problem reaching the semifinal stage of the Chatham Cup, with five appearances in the last seven years. It is taking the next step which has proved elusive.
The team is undefeated this season and playing some good football, especially in the last four or five weeks.
With lady luck also on its side, this might be the year Caversham reaches the final.
"It has always been key moments which have cost us, whether it was an individual error or something like that. But our first step is this week against Mosgiel," Murray said.
"It is a massive game for us because the league is our bread and butter. Then it is about rest and recovery and just making sure that everyone does their job and takes the opportunity."
Lower Hutt City will be a tougher opponent than Manukau City proved to be. The Hutt has a good core of young talent and some strike power up front. But the team will be missing athletic young goalkeeper Scott Basalaj, who has been called into the Olympic squad as injury cover for Jake Gleeson.
Caversham is likely to be without speedy striker Ant Hancock.
The Timaru-based sniper nabbed two goals in the 3-1 win against Manukau City on Sunday but pulled a muscle.
Manukau City goalkeeper Sergio Bustos broke his leg during the game and Murray visited the Chilean in Dunedin Hospital yesterday.
Bustos required an operation and a rod was inserted into his leg. Some of his team-mates have stayed on in Dunedin to support him.
