Shoot-out success secures cup final clash for Upton (From Ledbury Reporter)

Shoot-out success secures cup final clash for Upton

3:00pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in Sport

UPTON Town face Charlton Rovers in the Cheltenham Association League’s Senior Charity Cup final at Cheltenham Town on May 10.

The Hill Centre outfit ousted Division One high-fliers Butlers 4-3 on penalties under the Bishops Cleeve floodlights after drawing 0-0 in the semis.

Luke Kitchen tested the goalkeeper with a low shot and Matt Hindmarsh impressed in midfield but Town could not create any real chances.

Butlers improved in the second period and looked threatening from set-pieces with Upton goalkeeper Chris Darby making two fine saves.

Substitute Mark Amott’s 20-yard curler was comfortably stopped before the penalty shoot-out.

Butlers scored their first two spot-kicks, while Kitchen and Simon Craddock were successful for Upton Town.

Darby saved the third after a retake and the fourth with Tom Crump giving Upton the advantage.

Amott’s penalty was stopped and Butlers scored their fifth but Vlad Kutlis held his nerve to fire Town through.

In Division Two, fourthplaced Upton drew 1-1 at Southside but put on a fine first-half show with Ben Nineham’s header disallowed.

The home keeper saved well from his own defender as well as from Luan Gashi and Crump.

Southside went ahead on 75 minutes only for Amott to score a spectacular injurytime equaliser from 25 yards.

• Second-placed Hanley Swan kept up the pressure on the Division Two leaders with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Newton.

Newton looked more impressive early on but Jon Palmer put Hanley ahead against the run of play from Richard Foley’s pass.

The visitors equalised 10 minutes later with a header but James Newland restored Hanley’s lead via a drive through a crowd of players.

Keeper Nick Rogers’ fine save preserved the lead but the score was levelled through a penalty and Newton went ahead following a controversial indirect freekick.

But, after good work from Matt Atkinson, Dave Schooling equalised for Hanley and, with minutes left, a Palmer corner was headed in by Mark Shepherd at the back post.