Ardley do it the hard way to reach the last eight

Chris Jackson bagged a brace for Ardley United against Highmoor-Ibis

Ardley United progressed to the quarter-finals of the UHLSport Hellenic League Floodlit Cup.

After going behind to Highmoor-Ibis in Tuesday’s tie Ardley hit back to win 4-1 with four late goals.

Mitch Parker and Jamie Piercy combined early on but could not test Lee Farrow while a Joel Meade cross fell to Chris Jackson but he could only fire over. A James McCarthy free-kick was headed towards goal by Bradley Cox but keeper Chris Hitt tipped it over.

Four minutes before the break the visitors took the lead when a free-kick was met by Harry Badderley who stroked the ball home.

Parker shot wide and then over either side of the interval and then saw Farrow save his header. Cox headed wide before Ardley equalised 15 minutes from the end when McCarthy’s corner was headed home at the far post by Jackson.

Four minutes later Ardley took the lead when McCarthy’s corner was prodded home by Jackson. A minute into added-time Matt Cruse was tripped in the box and Leam Howards scored from the ensuing spot-kick.

Two minutes later Howards grabbed his second goal when a long clearance caught out Hitt and the striker rounded the keeper to score.