Fareham Town make hard work of beating US Portsmouth Reserves to book Senior Cup semi-final place

A goal in each half from Jack Nicholls and Simon Woods gave the Reds a 2-0 victory on a 3G surface at US Portsmouth Reserves.

But Pete Stiles’ men made incredibly hard work of sealing a last four place against a USP side who play five leagues lower than they do.

Indeed, USP play in the Wyvern Combination East - a division below Fareham’s reserve side!

With Fareham unlikely to host Shaftesbury at a waterlogged Cams Alder this weekend in the Wessex Premier League, Stiles fielded a side packed with first team regulars.

In contrast, USP fielded only three players who have appeared for the club’s first team this season - and Phil Archbold (2), Jay Johnson (1) and George Molyneux (1) have only made four sub outings between them.

But USP carved out a handful of good first half chances and could have been ahead at the interval.

Finley Bello twice received passes from Luke Richards in space in the penalty area, but failed to hit the target either time.

Visiting keeper Ethan Whyte dived to push away a shot from the lively Billie Bushari before Molyneux’s 20-yard effort rebounded off the post.

As it was, Fareham led at half-time - centre half Nicholls netting from close range after the hosts had failed to clear a 30th minute corner.

Seconds earlier, Woods had struck the base of a post after collecting a poor clearance from keeper Danny Knights.

Charlie Cooper could have doubled Fareham’s lead within a minute of the restart, but slipped and shot wide.

Both sides then hit the crossbar inside a few minutes.

First, Fareham’s Curt Robbins saw a deflected effort thud against the woodwork before Whyte produced a superb double save at the other end.

After fingertipping Richards’ lob against the bar, he got up quickly to beat out a follow-up effort from the same player.

USP never seriously threatened a goal after that as Fareham’s greater fitness saw them enjoy the bulk of possession for the final half hour.

While USP were minus 42-goal strike pair Freddie Nancarrow (unavailable) and Dan Sibley (cup-tied), Fareham were able to bring on leading marksman Josh Benfield midway through the second period.

Lewis Stockford curled a free-kick just wide and Benfield (twice), Robbins and Woods all fired in efforts as the hosts tired.

USP were reduced to 10 men on 81 minutes when defender Johnson was sent to the sin-bin.

He had only been sat there for a minute when Fareham sealed victory, Woods this time netting from close range following another corner.

Fareham will now travel to either Denmead or Moneyfields in the semi-finals, with Baffins Milton hosting Horndean in the other last four tie.

USP: Knights, Oydele, Johnson, Archbold, Mlotshwa, Molyneux, Bello, Josh Smith, Parker, Richards, Bushari.

Fareham: Whyte, Cooper, Harris, Jones, Nicholls, Moody, Messenbird, Robbins, Woods, Stockford, Slade.