Independent Schools FA Cup quarter final

QEGS 1, Ardingly 1

(QEGS won 7-6 on pens)

FOR the second year in succession, penalties decided the QEGS match at the last 16 stage of the Independent Schools FA Cup.

And last year's heartbreaking exit against Charterhouse was forgotten as they overcame Ardingly College in Sussex to squeeze through 7-6 on penalties.

QEGS took the lead after 12 minutes when Chris Porter nodded on a long ball for John Tootell to head over the advancing goalkeeper. But 10 minutes later the scores were level when Ardingly's Will Barnes headed home.

Ardingly keeper Nick Patterson then turned away a Marcus Hedley 25-yard piledriver to keep the scores level at the break.

The Southern school, like QEGS a recent winner of the tournament, continued to look dangerous on the break but QEGS had two strong penalty claims turned aside that might have tipped the balance of the tie their way.

Extra time was already looming large when a corner from Stuart MacLean bobbled around the goal-line before being grabbed by the grateful Ardingly keeper. The additional 30 minutes failed to yield a goal and, after great drama in the shoot-out, Tootell stepped up to send QEGS into the last eight and another home tie against Eton.

QEGS: Alex Guy, Marcus Hedley, Robert Coar, Javeed Mohammed, Andrew Beardsworth, Paul McMahon, Jonathan West, Jamie Nicol, Stuart MacLean, Chris Porter, John Tootell. Subs: Richard Forrest, Damien Pickup, Alex Hindle.