Goring CC FC beat Southwater Royals to rech cup semi-final
Goring progressed to the semi-final of the Malcolm Simmonds Cup with a hard-fought win over WSL Division 1 North side Southwater Royals.
Goring started the game strongly and after just five minutes Dan Wilson won the ball on the halfway line and fed Luke Tate, who shot just wide from the edge of the box. Three minutes later a Wilson cross was chested down by Josh Clarke, setting up Jacob Pippen, whose fine effort went close.
A Southwater corner on 22 minutes brought a superb save from MoM Kieron Gillard resulting in another corner which Gillard again managed to scramble away. This time Gillard quickly released the ball to Wilson, who fed Pippen, and his one-two with strike partner Tate saw Pippen's fierce strike give Goring a deserved 1-0 lead.
Goring pressed hard for a second and Tate twice went close before another corner from Clarke on 36 minutes found Dave Wilcox whose header was met by Pippen whose shot from close in crashed off the underside of the bar.
Southwater equalised a minute before half-time when a deep cross from the right wasn't dealt with and Harry Garman scored with a fine headed goal.
The second half started evenly with no real chances until a Clarke corner on the hour was met by Wilcox who made no mistake to restore Goring’s lead.
The game opened up following this goal, with chances going begging at both ends. Goring went close on 72 minutes when Pippen shot just wide after latching on to a Charlie Sparks headed pass.
On 80 minutes, home keeper Gillard made another splendid save this time from a Southwater one on one and the final chance for Goring came late in the game when Connor Pomeroy beat his man and crossed for Kieran Clark who bundled the ball in only for it to be harshly disallowed as not having crossed the line.
The 2-1 victory sets up a semi-final away to WSL Premier Division side Wittering United, with an 11am kick-off on Easter Monday.