……….It will do so on the back of a solid defensive wall and lightning attack, such as was displayed yesterday against Spartan League outfit Aston Clinton and indeed on many other occasions this season.

Aston Clinton came as favourites yesterday, due to their step 6 status, and I felt they had fallen into the trap of thinking, as many other teams have before them , that they only need turn up. As anticipated they were a well organised team who enjoy plenty of possession which United were happy to concede. Indeed, the visitors forced ‘keeper Rundle into one smart save just before half time when United were protecting a 2-0 lead that could have been 4 and certainly should have been 3. However apart from the odd foray they never came to grips with a United defence that was prepared to give no quarter.

That the defensive wall was eventually pierced was due to a well taken effort from outside the box and a last-minute penalty that got a few hearts racing.

3-2 provides an impression of a tight, pulsating match, it was never that, although may have been had another long-range effort had not crashed off the United bar, only to be swept up to Andy Nicol whose reactive, purposeful long-range effort brightened up an otherwise miserable, wet and dreary Saturday afternoon and laid claim to United’s goal of the season, thus far to restore United’s two goal advantage.

So, yet again, United carry the Thames Valley Premier League flag into the quarter finals as arch rivals Reading YMCA crashed out of the competition 19-18 on penalties! After a 2-2 end of normal time result against Slough based Langley.

Penn & Tylers Green lost 3-1 at home to Buckingham Athletic while Saxton Rovers demolished Sing Sabha 5-0 as last season’s semi-final opponents Kintbury Rangers squeezed though on penalties following a 1-1 draw with Letcombe. Milton Keynes crashed 3-1 at home to Winslow United and Newport Pagnell Town beat Old Bradwell United 2-1. Chalvey Sports and Sandhust Town are yet to play.

United’s reserves found the going too hard at AFC Corinthians in Division Two despite drawing 1-1 at half time the ‘young guns’ went down 4-2.

Around the Premier Division, Wright & Unity confirmed my early season prediction with a thumping 5-1 win over Wokingham & Emmbrook TVPL to retain second spot as Westwood United put struggling Taplow to the sword by 8-0 and Wraysbury edged it 3-2 against United’s next opponents Woodley United Royals. All other teams were involved in cup fixtures.

Division Two saw South Reading maintain their unbeaten status with a 3-1 win at Harchester Hawks while United’s reserves slipped to 8th position following their 4-2 reversal at AFC Corinthians. Woodcote reserves went down 3-1 at home to Mortimer reserves.

Next week United return to league action with a home match v Woodley United Royals. United’s cup successes have meant slipping to fourth spot in the league therefore its now time to get points on the board with 3 consecutive league matches to come.

United’s reserves have no fixture next week.