Brimscombe & Thrupp 0-1 Holyport

A frustrating night in front of goal and an inspired goalkeeping performance was enough to send Brimscombe and Thrupp out of the Hellenic Supplementary Cup at the quarter-final stage on Tuesday, writes Richard Joyce.

Visitors Holyport clinched a place in the semi-finals of the competition thanks to Jake Quelch’s impressive showing with the goalkeeper saving a second half penalty on the way to his team’s upset at the Meadow.

Sam Prior’s men were in control for much of the night, but both sides had their chances in a quiet first half where Fabian Driffill threatened for the visitors and both Ollie Pitt and Sam Blackie saw shots saved for Brimscombe.

The half-time introduction of John Evans on the left side of midfield lifted the Lilywhites, and the former Cheltenham Civil Service midfielders cross for Ben Deakin five minutes into the second half ended with the latter seeing a deflected shot crash against the crossbar.

Holyport clinched the goal against the run of play they savoured though on 54 minutes. Steven Deverall’s excellent cross from the left hand side was emphatically headed home by Josh Lowther to break the deadlock.

Within sixty seconds though Evans’ driving run saw him scythed down to hand Brimscombe the opportunity to respond immediately from the penalty spot.

Ashley Caldwell, who had scored twice from the spot in the weekend’s excellent away win at Binfield, was denied on this occasion though by Quelch who made a great stop to his right.

A mixture of Quelch saves and brilliant last ditch defending frustrated Brimscombe in their search for an equaliser as Blackie and Deakin were both denied.

Forest Green Rovers loan youngster Adam Bloomfield’s impact off the bench caught the eye. The 16-year-old produced a good effort from fellow substitute Karl Nash’s through ball, while he was also denied when through on goal by Quelch’s quick reactions.

A Blackie snapshot was again kept out by Quelch, while Elijah Simpson could only head over the target when he met the formers pin-point corner in the final ten minutes.

The Hellenic Division One East visitors managed to hang on to secure their place in the semi-finals as Brimscombe look to bounce back when they go again this weekend with a trip to County League side Ruardean Hill Rangers in the semi-finals of the GFA Challenge Trophy.

BRIMSCOMBE: L Skyers, N Marks, J Vadasz, A Caldwell, C Pates, K Pitts, B Deakin (A Bloomfield), E Simpson, J Smith (K Nash), S Blackie, O Pitt (J Evans)

HOLYPORT: J Quelch, L Ovens, C Hedges, A Sharp, C De Franco, C Evans, S Deverall, S Whitfield, A Forisky, F Driffill, J Lowther, M Davies, D Janev