Tenbury United win 3-2 at Holme Lacy

EXPERIENCED defender Aaron Morris says Tenbury United remain on course for a treble – but cannot afford to give teams a two-goal start.

Morris’ men were dancing with delight after edging past Lacy in a hard-fought tie in the quarter-finals of the Jock Handley Cup.

And the Herefordshire League Division One table-toppers host lower-graded Shobdon Reserves this Saturday in the quarter-finals of the Leintwardine Cup.

“I think we need another five wins to win the league title and, hopefully, we can wrap it up before the cricket season starts,” said Morris.

“We are now on course for a treble – and that is something very exciting to aim for because midweek cup finals under floodlights are very exciting for a player.”

United fought back from 2-0 down to see off Holme Lacy and will travel to Bromyard FC or Pencombe in the last four of the Jock Handley Cup.

United trailed 2-1 at the break and man-of-the-match Tom Farr made a vital tackle to keep out a clear goal-scoring chance in the second half.

United joint-manager Morris, who hit the visitors’ leveller, admitted there had been some harsh words at the break.

“We were absolutely shocking at the start and we were 2-0 down after 15 minutes,” said Morris.

“Perhaps we were a bit too complacent because we had thrashed Holme Lacy earlier in the season.

“Holme Lacy defended very well in the first half with two banks of four and we struggled to break them down.”

Morris added: “There were some very harsh words at the break and a bit of hair dryer treatment. It wasn’t over the top and it seemed to work.”

Tom Grabzcak and Jeremy Spencer fired Lacy 2-0 ahead. Substitute Ian Patterson set up Ryan Morris for United’s first goal before the interval and the visitors almost levelled after the break when Patterson hit the bar and Patterson prodded the rebound wide.

Morris levelled the tie from a goal-mouth melee after Patterson and Mike Foster had both had efforts blocked and joint-manager Nick Stocker struck the winner with five minutes remaining.

Lacy spokesman Ben Hince said: “Tenbury are a great side but we were more than a match for them.”

United host lower-graded Shobdon Reserves in the quarter-finals of the Leintwardine Cup this Saturday. If United are successful, they will face Orleton Colts in the last four.