Wickham Wanderers 5 - 3 Sherborne St. John

Wickham Wanderers belied their disappointing League form and successfully progressed into the Semi-Finals of the Peter Houseman League Cup when they won an entertaining tie against Sherborne St. John.

The League form of both teams could not be more contrasting, since Wickham are battling against relegation and currently prop up the Premier League table, whilst Sherborne are dominating the First Division to such an extent that they have already secured promotion, and are closing in on the League title.

Sherborne dominated the early exchanges and enjoyed the majority of possession throughout the first-half, although the Wickham back four of Sam Peacock, Darren Peters, Michael Morris and Jamie Crook allowed them very few clear goal-scoring chances. Indeed, Sherborne's efforts were largely restricted to long-range shots which failed to cause any undue trouble to George Sage in the Wickham goal.

After a goal-less first-half in which few chances were created by either team, there followed an extraordinary five minute period immediately after the break in which no fewer than five goals were scored.

Against the run of play, Wickham took the lead when Jonathan Kempster slotted a defence-splitting pass to Daniel Crane on the right wing, who cut inside before rifling a fierce shot into the top corner of the net past Arron Tilbury in the Sherborne goal.

Wickham doubled their advantage almost immediately after the re-start when Ryan Shepherd broke through from midfield and slotted home, and they went three up moments later when Charlie Allsop latched on to a mis-hit clearance and lashed home from the edge of the box.

Sherborne, who had looked the more likely winners up until that point were clearly stung to find themselves three goals down, and George Goddard gave them hope of a fight-back when he scored the goal of the match after racing down the right-hand flank, exchanging a one-two, and converting with a spectacular overhead kick.

However, Wickham quickly restored their three goal advantage when Shepherd, racing on to a loose ball which Tilbury had come out of his area to clear, won the 50 - 50 battle, and stroked it into the unguarded net.

Wickham effectively wrapped up the tie with a fifth goal when Charlie Allsop headed goalwards from an in-swinging corner delivered by George Westbrook, and Kempster nipped in to prod the ball past Tilbury from close range.

Sherborne refused to capitulate, and launched a number of attacks in an effort to retrieve the game, but Crook and Wickham's Man-of-the-Match, Morris held firm in the centre of defence to thwart their endeavours, at least until the final moments of the match, when Sherborne scored two late consolation goals.

Graham Dwyer created space for himself with a clever turn on the edge of the Wickham penalty area before firing home through a crowded defence, and Adam Riley scored with an exquisite lob after Wickham had failed to clear a corner to make the final score 5 - 3.

(Report submitted  by James Morris)