LITTLE OAKLEY 3

WHITE ENSIGN 1

Essex Premier Cup quarter-final

OAKLEY secured a semi-final place for the first time in 26 years thanks to two late goals at the Memorial Ground.

With Ensign having knocked out Essex and Suffolk Border League leaders Gas Rec in the previous round, Oakley knew they were in for a tough afternoon but home advantage proved a leveller.

With a strong wind blowing down the pitch, Liam Duly went close after 15 minutes but keeper Pitts pushed his effort around the post.

At the other end, a great block by keeper Glen Morrison, with his face, denied Wilby.

Michael Palmer chested down a long ball into the path of Trevor Lewis but his effort struck a bobble and then the same player was denied by Danso.

Oakley opened the scoring on 34 minutes, when Shaun Kioussis’ free-kick hit the wall but, in the process, was handled by Lindfield.

Jake Kioussis stepped up and curled a brilliant free-kick around the wall and into the net.

Oakley should have added a second, with Pitts out of position, but Lewis lifted the ball over the bar.

Oakley saw out the rest of the half, with Stephen Polley tracking back to cut out an Ensign attack.

The visitors started the second half well and an early save from Morrison denied Lindfield.

Seconds later, Jamie Dobkin was alert to clear the ball off the line.

Lewis’ through ball fed Palmer. He latched on to it but hesitated after being closed down by Pitts.

With an hour gone, a foul by Ben Hammond on the edge of the area led to Brown’s free-kick striking Jake Kioussis. The visitors looked one-dimensional at times, lofting the ball high into the Oakley area, looking for Delf.

However, his aerial threat was dealt with by Morrison.

The first real chance of the second half saw Lewis swing a left-foot volley inches past the post, from Luke Good’s cross.

With the visitors pressing and Oakley defending in numbers, there was a twist when Brown scrambled home a leveller, despite a handball in the build-up from Crumpton.

It looked as if the visitors would hold out for extra-time.

However, Oakley went searching for the killer goal – and duly got one in the 90th minute.

The Acorns took the lead when a deep corner by Duly saw Good fire the ball back across the face of the goal for Jamie Beecham to guide home and make it 2-1.

Two minutes later, Oakley settled the tie when Palmer latched on to a free-kick from Jake Kioussis.

Tomorrow sees Oakley’s first team travel to Hatfield Peverel, while their A team are at the Memorial Ground against Team Brantham (both 2.30pm).

The club’s reserves have no game.