Upton Town 0 Tenbury United 1

AARON Morris saluted the travelling army after Tenbury United roared into the quarter-finals of the Worcestershire FA Saturday Minor Cup.

George Pearson scored a superb first-half free-kick for United in Saturday’s second-round tie against higher-graded Upton Town.

It was United’s first clean sheet of the campaign.

United are through to the last eight of the competition – alongside Tenbury Town who clinched a 4-1 success at VBL Sports.

And Morris is hoping United will continue their knockout form in this Saturday’s Jock Handley Cup home tie against Kingstone Rovers.

United have signed Toby Gittens but Ashley Giles is suffering with hamstring injury and will be missing this weekend’s tie, along with Morris and Sam Williams.

Morris said: “We organised a bus to travel to Upton – and our fans were dotted around the pitch and they were like our 12th man.

“Upton made some physical challenges around the pitch which only spurred on our supporters with Ben Thompson in full voice.”

“We could draw Tenbury Town in the quarter-finals. But it would be nice to avoid them anbd knock them out in the semi-finals.

“Welland are probably the best team left in the competition.”

Morris was delighted with United’s display against Upton, a well-organised team who and had a former England under-21 international playing.

“We asked the front two to work hard – and Kurt Pardoe and Ian Patterson worked their socks off. Full-backs Tom Farr and Dan Ridley were the men of the match.”

United were without Dale Withers and Lee Millichip but saw the return of Mike Foster.

Pearson struck Tenbury’s winner after Tom Farr was brought down just outside the area.

Pearson stepped up and, with the keeper standing on the wrong side of the wall, curled the ball into the net.

Ian Patterson almost extended our lead when he had an effort tipped around a post.