Burnt Ash 2nd XI 1 v 0 Bournemouth 2nd XI

Hockey Association 2nd XI Trophy Quarter-Finals

BURNT Ash's 2nd XI have continued their giant killing as they march to the Hockey Association Trophy final.

A Chris Waight penalty corner on 20 minutes was enough to dispose of a Bournemouth side from the Premier League.

Burnt Ash will now play the University of Nottingham of the Premier Men's North Division for a place in the final.

Manager Simon Ellis said: "What the boys have done so far is fantastic.

"We never expected to get past the first round but it seems the higher the standard of the team we play the better the boys perform."

He added: "At the beginning of the year we had scrapped the second XI and only started training three months before the start of this season.

"We looked at all the players who had enquired about joining the club for the first time as well as some from the lower level squads.

"From them we picked a squad of 17 boys we thought were capable of playing in a second team."

He added: "We were fortunate when the first squad took on more players and normal first XI players Luke Austen and Johhny Gray filtered down to us."

The quarter-final against Bournemouth was played at Chislehurst and Sidcup School, on Hurst Road, Sidcup.

Both midfields saw plenty of the ball as defences held firm.

Bournemouth were restricted to short corners as their only method of scoring as every open play possession was foiled by Danny Kendall in defence.

Jodax Beaumont controlled the midfield for Ash ably assisted by Gray and Austin the latter of whom had only returned from a holiday in Australia on the morning of the tie.

Terrific commitment up front from James Farrington, Tom Rose, Waight and James Stratton caused Bournemouth problems.

As the second half progressed both Rose and Farrington saw efforts narrowly miss the target and failed to give Ash the cushion they looked for.

As time ran out Ash worked on keeping possession and frustrating Bournemouth who were playing an excellent game despite the eventual loss.

Burnt Ash have beaten Epsom, Chichester Priory Park, Lewes and now Bournemouth scoring 10 goals and conceding only four in the process and heads are turning in the world of hockey.

Simon said: "In every match we have not been expected to win and the onus has been on the bigger team.

"We had some luck against Chichester but every team needs that."

He said: "I entered the competition to give the boys some experience and because there is no pressure on them there is no embarrassment if they lose.

"People are taking notice and it is bringing the club closer together."

The semi-final will take place on April 2 Although the venue is yet to be confirmed.