Drove overcame Oundle 1-0 on Saturday despite having Barney Shales dismissed with a straight red card midway through the second half and Rob Taylor given his marching orders in the closing stages for picking up two bookings.

And the match ended in high drama as Oundle had a last-gasp Dan Kelly effort ruled out. Parson Drove linesman Colin Haime flagged for a foul on home keeper Adam Wright as Kelly netted and the goal was disallowed.

Drove official Craig Wykes revealed the Fenland side are determined to go all the way to honour the memory of late team-mate Daniel Markillie – the son of manager Nick Markillie – who died in a road accident last month.

Wykes said: "The boys all want to go on and win the cup for Daniel. That is their motivation and we are delighted to be in the last four. They are really determined to do it.

"I guess we can't really have too many complaints about Rob's sending-off for the two bookings, but we felt the straight red was harsh. Barney definitely deserved a yellow for his foul but not to be sent off."

Oundle chief Danny Clifton was dumbfounded as to why Kelly's stoppage time leveller was ruled out.

He said: "To have a goal ruled out for a non-existent foul was disappointing, but we can't complain too much as we didn't do enough to win.

"You could get arrested for the sort of tackles some of their players were making, but there is no denying the team that wanted it more won.

"We probably won't ever have a better opportunity in the cup given the number of top sides knocked out, but we will now have to concentrate on getting ourselves safe in the Premier Division."

Premier Division leaders Perkins cruised past Division One outfit Chatteris to complete the semi-final line-up. Dino Salerno, Chris Kaye and Isaac Twigden fired Perkins to a 3-1 success that sets up a last four meeting with another side from the second tier – Netherton.

Brown said: "Chatteris have a decent young side and it took us a while to get going. In fact we took the lead against the run of play, but we came through comfortably and I'm chuffed to bits to be in with a chance of winning a league title and a cup at this stage of the season."




MOULTON Harrox kissed goodbye to their Premier Division title chances on Saturday.

That's the message from fuming manager Paul Kent who watched his men tumble to a shock derby defeat at lowly Pinchbeck.

Steve Wells struck the killer blow to Harrox's hopes of silverware with the only goal five minutes from time. Before then Phil Groves and Nigel Steadman had both hit the woodwork for the high-flyers.

Kent said: "A defensive mistake decided the game but we were awful. It was the most lacklustre performance imaginable and it is impossible to legislate for so many people having a bad day.