THERE were raucous celebrations for the Austin Ex-Apprentices players after they booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Sunday National Cup thanks to a 3-2 victory over FC Bengals.
On the third attempt to stage the match, it was switched to Austin’s pitch in order to go ahead, and the hosts got the better of a five-goal thriller to set up a last eight clash against reigning champions New Salamis at the Triplex club in Kings Norton.
Reaching the quarter-finals of this prestigious competition is a tremendous feat for Austin, who will hope to go all the way to final likely to be played at a Football League ground.
Austin’s goalscorers were Michael McGrath, Richard Deeming and Josh Westwood.
Elsewhere, there were numerous fixtures in the newly-split Redditch & South Warwickshire Combination, which now comprises three divisions.
In the Premier Division, CBH Fasteners’ home match against Beoley Village was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, whilst Golden Cross AFC won 2-1 at New Woodland Cottage thanks to goals from Mark Wilkes and Tobias Teague. Adam Crombie netted for Woodland.
Two goals from Murphy and further strikes from Nolan and Madden guided Lodge Park to a 4-2 Division One victory at Redditch Town, for whom Adams bagged a brace.
SCC Redolence won another high-scoring game as they triumphed 4-3 at Redditch Cross. Paul Jeynes (2), Matt Wood and Tim Lees were on the mark for SCC, whilst Tom Johnson-Hosker (2) and Matt Norris scored for Cross.
In Division Two, Martin Hughes scored five goals including three penalties to inspire Studley Swan to a thumping 8-1 home win over VKL United. Owen Lewis, Lea Styles and Tom Daniel also registered for Swan and Ste Spencer was the VKL scorer.
Shakespeare Studley were 3-2 home winners over SO Goose Greelands thanks to goals from Karl Surman, Dave White and Ash Wilson. Matt Hale and Matt Jones netted for Goose.
AFC Lions progressed into the second round of the Pat Sanders Cup as strikes from Josh Watts, Richard Tyler, Jon Pearson and Tommy Williams clinched a 4-1 win at home to South Redditch, for whom Ben James King netted.