FA CARLSBERG SUNDAY CUP FOURTH ROUND
Rayners Lane Sundays 1 Upshire 2
BRAVE Rayners Lane Sundays fought right to the whistle but could not find a way past Upshire as they exited the FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup at the weekend.
Substitute Ryan Penhale came off the bench to give the Lane hope of setting up a quarter-final tie with Comet Spurs, but it was not to be as the hosts bowed out of the competition.
Rayners Lane fielded the same starting XI that performed so well in their last match, a full three weeks earlier, against Barnes Albion for this last 16 encounter.
However, they found themselves behind almost immediately as Upshire grabbed the first goal within three minutes of the kick-off at Tithe Farm Sports Club.
Lane were not shaken and thought they were back on terms on 25 minutes when Oli Leslie teed up Dan Church, only for the linesman to deny the home side an equaliser for a debatable offside call.
Instead, Upshire snatched a crucial second shortly before half time as the visiting number 10 found himself in space at the back post to head home a free-kick.
Paul Leslie replaced Gavin Smith after the interval but it was Lane’s second substitution that provided the spark as Penhale came on in place of Nick Barr.
Five minutes later and Penhale was on the scoresheet, bursting forward to get on the end of a cross and slotting the ball past the onrushing keeper to give the hosts a lifeline.
But it had come too late, and despite Lane’s continued pressure, the visitors held on for the win.
Meanwhile, the Saturday first team return to league action on Saturday at home to Finchampstead.
