Penalties were required to separate Baffins Milton Rovers and a young Shots side but it was Aldershot who advanced to the Hampshire Senior Cup Semi-Finals.
The first-half was devoid of many chances on goal for either side. Harry McKenna came close for Aldershot as his effort from outside the area went narrowly wide but neither Lloyd Thomas or Baffins’ Roux Hardcastle had much to do.
But, it was the Shots who found the breakthrough in the 29th minute. McKenna’s deep cross in from the right found Omar Eisa at the back-post who did really well to guide his header into the back of the net at full stretch.
HALF-TIME
Baffins found an equaliser just six minutes into the second-half but it was via a Shots player. Charlie Oakwell’s ball in from the right was turned in by Jack Brewer.
But the young Shots weren’t knocked down by the equaliser and pushed to retake the lead. Harry McKenna was Aldershot’s dangerman and came closest with two quickfire chances around the hour mark.
A lovely move from the Shots fell to the young striker’s feet and he forced Hardcastle into a good save before just minutes later smashing the outside of the post with a shot from a tight angle.
Baffins came close to snatching a late winner when Tom Vincent found the ball around the edge of the area but his shot was superbly blocked by Jack Brewer.
Aldershot could have also snatched the win at the death as Ash Akpan’s powerful strike from outside the box hit the outside of the post and went wide.
However, the sides couldn’t be separated and the match went to a penalty shootout:
Ryan Case (Aldershot) scores (0-1)
Dillon North (BMRFC) misses – saved by Lloyd Thomas (0-1)
Oliver Turner (Aldershot) scores (0-2)
Charlie Oakwell (BMRFC) scores (1-2)
Tyrone Shiham (Aldershot) scores (1-3)
Joe Johnson (BMRFC) scores (2-3)
Bradley Manning (Aldershot) misses – off-target (2-3)
Ed Sanders (BMRFC) scores (3-3)
Ashley Akpan (Aldershot) scores (3-4)
Tom Vincent (BMRFC) scores (4-4)
Jordan Addo-Antoine (Aldershot) scores (4-5)
Liam Brewer (BMRFC) misses – saved by Lloyd Thomas (4-5)
Aldershot won the shootout and advance to the Hampshire Cup Semi-Finals!
Shots lineup: 1. Lloyd Thomas, 2. Ashley Akpan, 4. Ryan Case, 5. Jack Brewer, 6. Oliver Turner, 7. Harry McKenna (Joe Lewis-Evans 70′), 8. Mason Obeng, 9. Omar Eisa (14. Jayden Smith 54′), 10. Archie Coulter (16. Tyrone Shiham 64′), 11. Bradley Manning (c), 23. Jordan Addo-Antoine. Subs not used: 15. Omreiki Myles, 17. Harry Hurst.
