QUARTER FINALS

Holders Peter Symonds are through to the Peter Munro Cup semi-finals – after overcoming a goalkeeping crisis that threatened to derail their prospects of beating Farnborough B.
Coaches Rob Kitley and Geoff Rolls faced a goalkeeping problem of epic proportions when they found that neither Josh Tombs nor Aaron Whitmarsh was available for the midweek second round tie, alongside the injured Sam Jerram.
So, fourth choice Shea McKay got the call – and turned in a star performance in Symonds’ thrilling 3-2 win.
Symonds’ problems didn’t stop there because their second team was playing an AOC Cup tie against Guildford-based Merrist Wood on the adjoining Bereweeke Avenue pitch – and they too didn’t have a goalkeeper !
“We took Shea (McKay) off them and played a regular outfielder in goal – and they still won 3-1,” beamed a delighted Rob Kitley.
Nick Berry-Green, Jabez Setters and the inspirational Ben Parkinson got the PSC goals – the win taking the side to Weymouth in round two.
Peter Symonds had already knocked Farnborough’s A side out of the PMC, so – on paper - beating their B side looked a fairly academic exercise.
Anything but it transpired, Symonds trailed in a chances strewn game and had to come from behind in the second half to snatch a 3-2 win.
The two sides served up a thoroughly entertaining tie, with Farnborough paying the penalty for fluffing a string of chances (albeit denied several times by McKay) as the impressive Theo Wolfarth created an opening on the left which PSC’s Joe Sutherden calmly tucked away.
By half-time Farnborough were deservedly level – McKay pulling off a save to deny Matt Billingham, but Toby Illingworth followed up to make it 1-1.
Such are their student numbers, Farnborough’s reserve team would comfortably hold its own in the Colleges Premier League – as PSC found out.
As the second half play switched from end to end, Sutherden bungled a great chance for PSC, while FB’s Illingworth was denied a second by the linesman’s flag.
When Henry Patton then fired Farnborough ahead, it appeared as though Symonds’ number might be up – but Wolfarth drilled in arguably PSC’s goal of the season to make it 2-2.
Legs became tired as the inspirational McKay once again denied Illingworth and kept Symonds’ in the game.
His save proved crucial as soon afterwards Lewis Wakeford broke to fired a superb left-foot winner for Peter Symonds.
PSC’s reward is a home semi-final tie against Queen Mary’s, who beat their Basingstoke neighbours in a penalty shot-out after the sides had slugged out a 4-4 draw.
There was another goal deluge in the Portsmouth-Itchen tie, except that all 13 unanswered Itchen goals flew in the Pompey net !
James Smith and Ethan Taylor shared eight of the goals, with Will Gange and Jack Wilson scoring two each. Jake Willis-Dellimore got the 13th.
Itchen will now face Barton Peveril, who won 7-1 at Poole Grammar, Ollie Chambers helping himself to a hat-trick.
Substitute Josh Carey came off the bench to fire BP in front, while the second goal was a cracker from Nathan Jenvey.
Chambers then tucked into a hat-trick, while Matt Rickman and Carey scored either side of
a Conal Burns penalty consolation goal for PGS.