THE Lynchpin FC boss Riley Smith admits that he is ‘very pleased’ to have reached the Norfolkian Senior Cup semi-finals.

The Pin qualified for the last four of this season’s competition with a 3-2 win away at Thames Valley League Premier Division club Wraysbury Village on Saturday.

The Farnham Park team set up an all-East Berkshire League semi-final against Maidenhead Magpies with goals from Alex Simmonds, Billy Davies and Ollie Jemmett.

However, Smith told the Observer that he was disappointed with the performance and feared that the tie would go to extra time or penalties.

He said: “We had been on a good winning streak but the Christmas break did not help our momentum.

“We dominated possession on Saturday and created chances but did not put them away.

“The players were bickering at half-time because some were frustrated that we had not been putting chances away.

“From the sideline you could see the team was playing well. We just needed to take our chances and not dwell on them.

“We were well on top once we settled down and got two goals early in the second half which decided the game. We dominated for most of the second-half but stepped off with some players getting lackadaisical.

“As a team we stepped off and let Wraysbury back in. We were under the cosh for 10 minutes.

“We made changes but at one point we were under pressure, giving the ball away and making mistakes.

“At one point I thought that it may go to extra time, which we did not want on a heavy pitch.

“That said we played good football which we picked up when winning the league last year.

“I am very pleased to be able to reach the semi-final but I’m disappointed with our actual performance.” Wraysbury took the lead in the quarter-final tie through Awoala Kpunpamo, but Simmonds levelled the scores after a goal mouth scramble from a corner.

Two similar efforts from Davies and Jemmett gave The Lynchpin a clear lead, but a cracking free-kick from Sean Hill set up a grandstand finish.

Kpunpamo thought he had made it 3-3 but his goal was ruled out for offside and Wraysbury could not force extra time.

The Lynchpin return to league action at home to bottom side Slough Heating tomorrow (Saturday, 2pm ko) before a visit from Eton Wick on January 24.

The Pin also have Norfolkian Cup and Slough Town Senior Cup semi-final ties to look forward to, and Smith remains optimistic about winning silverware this season.

He said: “Touchwood we are in good shape with the cup runs and the league as well.

“We’re having a good season with a new brand of playing, but it’s one game at a time. That’s all I install in the players.

“We have tried to get the team to gel. That has taken five or six games and the cup runs have come in that time.

“We are playing well and this year has been really good in terms of the cups and the league.

“In terms of the Slough Town Cup, we have got a chance against Burnham Reserves.

“We’ve been to watch a couple of their games to see what they’re like. We’ve got a good chance of getting to the final at least.” Smith continued: “There is a lot more competition in the East Berkshire League this season, in the league and the cups.

“I think that the Premier is between three teams, but at the moment in terms of form and the table there are currently five involved.

“I would say that they are Langley and potentially Iver Heath Rovers, and you can never write off Chalvey Sports.

“We won the league with an aging squad last year but to do it this season would mean so much.

“I would’ve been happy with a top four finish, but to be where we are is good with a much better team and squad available.” Looking ahead to the clash with Slough Heating, Smith added: “Slough have a great history and a good side.

“They have struggled to get a team out in the past, but they can beat anyone on their day.

“We have to treat every game as if it is a semi-final now.” **PICK up a copy of the Observer, out now, for all the latest sports news and action including pictures from Wraysbury Village versus The Lynchpin** **FOLLOW the Observer on Twitter at @Observer_sports**