GOALKEEPER Robbie Farrar was the toast of Tenbury United as they avenged the previous week’s defeat by Wellington Reserves by launching their defence of the HFA Charity Bowl with a 3-2 win.

United, beaten 3-1 by Wellington in the league seven days earlier, turned the tables on their Premier Division title rivals with a hard-fought quarter-final victory at Palmer’s Meadow.

Co-boss Aaron Morris said: “For long periods of the game we were outstanding. We scored three but could have scored a lot more had we taken our chances.

“But in the end the victory was down to Robbie Farrar. He was excellent, making at least six wonderful saves. Edd Anton and Macauley Stone, who were starting their first game together in the middle of midfield for some time, also excelled while youngster Harry Moran was given a first start at right-back and did very well.”

United started brilliantly in difficult wet and windy conditions. The inclement weather didn’t stop them putting together some neat football, and a slick goal from Ryan Morris edged them ahead after 15 minutes.

The goal kicked Wellington into gear and they started to push United back and look dangerous. Farrar was twice called into action before the break, making two top-class saves when an equaliser looked certain, but Tenbury weathered the storm and went in at half-time with their 1-0 lead intact.

The break came at a bad time for Wellington as they started start slowly in the second half and it wasn’t long before United increased their lead, again from Morris. This time the tricky wide man conjured up a wonderful solo effort.

But Welly quickly responded to make it 2-1 and the contest was back on. The tie could have gone either way with both sides committed to attack and the deteriorating pitch making it a nightmare for defenders.

But it was Tenbury who crucially scored next and it was captain Mike Foster who came up trumps, outmuscling a defender to drive home a low finish.

Wellington kept going and pulled a goal back with ten minutes to go, and it made it a very nervy finish. With a couple of minutes to go Man-of-the-Match Farrar made another vital one-on-one save at an attacker’s feet as United hung on to secure a semi-final date with Fownhope.