REAL Milan scrapped through in the Roy Lester Memorial Senior Trophy after a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win against AFC Phoenix (Plough) on Sunday.

The Cup holders again avoided a shock exit from the competition this season when recovering to take the quarter-finals match into penalties and beat a resolute and hard-working Phoenix team.

The tie was level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, then 2-2 following extra time before Milan held their nerve to win the shoot-out and book a spot in the semi-finals.

The away team took the lead as Cheyenne Cripps got in behind the Phoenix defence after a lovely ball over the top by Billy Canavan.

The man of the match spotted Cripps who made no mistake with the finish against his former club, rounding the keeper to fire home into the empty net.

However, Milan switched off after taking the lead and conceded a sloppy goal. A long throw evaded everyone and took a slight nick off a player before the ball ended up in the back of the net.

In the second half, Real Milan knew they would have to break down a resolute Phoenix team and went close when midfielder Daniel Sharp saw a free kick cleared off the line.

The hosts started extra time the better and took a shock lead, which they fully deserved for their performance. They counter-attacked brilliantly and found themselves two-on-one with the Milan defence, making no mistake with the finish to begin wild celebrations.

The home team regrouped and responded straight away to level through an unlikely source, right back Belal Boubker. He scored with a fierce right-foot strike from inside the box having been set up by Mohammed Shariff.

Into penalties and Phoenix saw their first effort go wide though Milan could not capitalise on the upper hand as captain Riccardo Cannon had his penalty saved.

Phoenix scored their next three, as did Sharp, Calvin Morgan and Amin Khomsi.

On the fifth penalty, the Milan keeper pulled off a stunning save to deny Phoenix before Shariff stepped up to convert his penalty and put his team through.

Shepherds Hut moved up to sixth place in Thames Valley Division Two following a 3-0 win against John 86 on Sunday.

It was not long before man-of-the-match Karl Haggan was brought down inside the area after good work from Chris Brown and Cameron Nealon. Jake Quantrill dispatched the spot-kick to continue his fine form.

Quantrill then had two goals disallowed after an adjudicated handball, although his hands were at his side, before a corner went out of play before coming back in.

In the second half, the impressive Jack Tyson scored a goal of the season contender with a left-foot Rabona from 25 yards out.

It was not long before Luke Fogarty added the third and final goal to secure all three points.

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