FOOTBALL: Defiant Ardley make cup final (From Bicester Advertiser)

FOOTBALL: Defiant Ardley make cup final

11:00am Thursday 7th March 2013 in Sport

Ardley United reached the final of the Uhlsport Hellenic League A&M Print & Copy Floodlit Cup with a 2-1 win at Fairford Town on Tuesday.

Fairford went ahead in the second half when Henry Trass fired past Joe White in the Ardley goal from 20 yards.

Ardley made it all-square through a Troy Bryan strike.

And the visitors completed the turnaround when Trass deflected a terrific shot from Ardley’s left winger Joe Eyre into his own net.

On Saturday, Steve How-kins took his season’s goals tally to 32 with a double in Ardley’s 5-3 home win against Holyport in the Premier Div-ision.

It saw Kevin Brock’s side close to within 14 points of leaders Marlow.

Ardley took the lead on seven minutes. Joe Coleman’s cross found Joe Eyre at the far post and his flick-on allowed Bryan to poke home.

Four minutes later, Holy-port levelled when Ardley keeper Joe White failed to clear and Jamie West lobbed home over the stranded keeper.

Ardley had a goal disallowed for offside and their frustration increased when West headed home his second to put Holyport in front.

It was all-square shortly after the break when Holyport failed to deal with a corner, and Howkins lashed home the first of his double from close range.

However, Holyport then restored their lead when West completed his hat-trick.

But Ardley didn’t let their heads drop and levelled again.

Howkins beat the Holyport keeper in a race for the ball after it was played over the top of the defence.

Ardley regained the lead when new signing Callum Convey fired in after a solo run.

With ten minutes left, Ardley sealed victory with their fifth.

Howkins fastened on to a quickly-taken goal kick from White before playing in Eyre, who outpaced the tiring Holyport defence before finding the net.

On Saturday, Ardley travel to local rivals Kidlington.