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Match Report:   Huntingdonshire FA - Senior Cup Quarter Final - Saturday, 27 February 2010

AFC Fletton  1    Yaxley  5

The Cuckoos made light of a potential banana skin game with this emphatic victory although last season's losing finalists didn't lie down and die. AFC Fletton twice rattled the Yaxley cross bar and forced three excellent reflex saves from U18 stand-in 'keeper Lewis Moat, who took the man-of-the-match vote from Yaxley's contingency of traveling supporters.

Elio Salerno scored his first league goal this season with a superbly placed curling shot into the top corner to put Yaxley in front after twenty minutes and when Ben Stainsby added a second eight minutes before the interval the Cuckoos looked to have one foot in the last four.

Teddy Rimell all but secured the Cuckoos win six minutes after the restart as he dribbled into the penalty area, turning twice to shake off defenders before finally unleashing a low drive just wide of the home keeper who was at full stretch. Rimell might have added a second as he stepped up to take a penalty kick but regular penalty taker and skipper Ricky Hailstone pulled rank and confidently slotted home the fourth goal after 69 minutes.

Substitute Ryan Asher-Powell showed promise with some exciting runs and useful crosses across the box before he personally completed the Yaxley tally nine minutes from time. With nothing to lose, Fletton continued to push forward, eventually forcing an own-goal from an unusual miss-kicked slice from Hailstone as he tried to clear from the six yard box giving Fletton a small consolation in the last minute.

Overall, as the result shows the Cuckoos were the better team on the day, especially when they played passing football on the ground rather than the long high ball. That said, the home defence were caught out several times with long high balls reaching pacey wing backs and forwards. A good, solid all-round performance that Clippo will expect his men to build on for the remaining league programme.

The Cuckoos now face a HOME semi-final against either Godmanchester Rovers or more likely current holders St. Ives Town scheduled for Saturday 27th March.

Yaxley: Lewis Moat, Michael Calvin (Lewis Leckie), Lewis Stone (Fernand Bass), Ricky Hailstone, Matt Holland, Teddy Rimell, Richard Challinor, Ben Stainsby, Elio Salerno, Jamie Darlow, Sam Makansi (Ryan Asher-Powell)

Next Saturday (6th March) the Cuckoos return to league duty with a home game versus Northampton Spencer that promises to be a gritty game as Clippo's men will be doing their best to put right the 1-1 draw in the away fixture. The club will also be officially opening the new dog-outs that have been built on the opposite side of the ground as part of the facilities upgrade to meet FA standards.

Mid-week, the 1st team have no fixture whilst the restructured U18's travel to Rothwell Town on Thursday evening.

COME ON YOU CUCKOOS !