PETER MORRISON TROPHY QUARTER-FINALS
OAKWOOD 0 HMH 0 (HMH won 4-2 on penalties)
Defences dominated at the Ark Academy in Wembley, with neither team able to break the deadlock in 90 minutes.
The tie was played in the excellent spirit, with very few clear-cut chances throughout, and both goalkeepers and sets of defences came out on top when required.
HMH may have edged it on possession and territory, with George Goldberg a constant threat for and Josh Cuby likewise for Oakwood albeit a much more isolated figure up front.
The visitors came close in the first half as a teasing cross-shot from Goldberg was narrowly missed by the incoming Nate Kashket.
The same player threatened in the second half, when he weaved his way to the byeline and crossed for what looked a certain goal only for man-of-the-match Jake Norton to find himself in an unusual position in front of goal but his sliding shot had no power.
At the other end, Cuby evaded Max Foster for once but Alex Davies was on hand for a fine block.
The HMH defence of Jake Norton, Max Foster, Sammy Kingston and Josh Goldstein were superb while Alex Moss and Ethan Krell put in a super shift in midfield. George Goldberg was a constant threat from the wing and Sam Monjack came on in the second half and created a couple of openings, with one particularly beautiful shimmy taking three Oakwood defenders out but the end product was missing.
So in a repeat of last year's last eight meeting, the tie was settled on penalties. HMH converted all four kicks through Kashket, Kingston, Goldberg and Krell. And it was left to HMH goalkeeper Alex Davies to come away as the hero, saving the first two Oakwood spot-kicks to send the holders into the hat for the semis, alongside Manchester Maccabi 1st, first division Hertswood Vale and second division Borussia Barnet.
Jubilant manager Goldberg told JC Sport: "We've been playing well recently without getting the results that our play deserves.
"Today, once again, we played well particularly defensively but our final product was not quite there and some credit for that must go to Oakwood defence but when it came to penalties we were ruthless.
"Our hands are still on the PM Trophy."
