Luke Ingram hammered a hat-trick as Ardley United came back from the brink of defeat to win 6-3 after extra time at Thatcham Town in the Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup third round.

Trailing 3-2 going into the last minute of normal time in Saturday’s game, Ardley looked to be going out of the competition.

But Ingram turned the ball in to force extra time which started with Thatcham down to ten men after player-manager Gareth Thomas was sent off for using foul and abusive language.

Ardley took full advantage with Troy Bryan, Ricky Johnson and Luke Ingram scoring to put them into the semi-finals and set up a trip to North Leigh United on a date to be arranged.

The visitors scored a fifth goal four minutes later.

Kieran Scott’s pass found Ricky Johnson who rifled past a helpless Chris Rackley in the Thatcham goal.

Luke Ingram completed his treble on the stroke of halftime.

Yashwa Romeo had given Thatcham a sixth-minute lead from Jordan Seward’s cross.

That was cancelled out when Luke Ingram grabbed his first goal, heading home after his brother, Conor, flicked on an Adam Beckett cross.

Ardley went ahead two minutes into the second half.

Bryan’s pass found Conor Ingram who fired past Rackley for a 2-1 advantage.

However, Ardley’s goalkeeper Jack Harding somehow dropped a cross which allowed Romeo to prod in his second goal for Thatcham’s equaliser.

On 71 minutes Marc Thompson converted Paul Taplin’s cross to turn the tie Thatcham’s way, before Luke Ingram struck to ensure extratime.

Last night, Ardley were looking to make it three Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division victories in a row at basement boys Cheltenham Saracens, who have won only once this season.

Meanwhile, Oxfordshire Senior League holders Ardley will take on Banbury in the semi-finals on a date and venue yet to be decided.