THERE were a few sore heads in Kidlington yesterday after the Hellenic League side celebrated upsetting Oxford United in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup semi-final.

Despite playing their league football five divisions below the visitors, Kidlington won 4-3 on a penalty shoot-out after the game finished goalless.

Coach Paul Harwood was in charge of the non-league side, with manager Martin Wilkinson and his deputy Chris Peacock overseas with the RAF.

Harwood, who won the cup twice with the U’s as a young player, was thrilled with the result, which sparked a pitch invasion at Yarnton Road.

“We had a couple of drinks afterwards,” he said.

“After seeing the line-ups I thought it was going to be one-way traffic.

“The boys did well, although their legs did get tired towards the end.

“It was a good night for the club.”

Skipper Lewis Brownhill, who twice came close to breaking the deadlock in the second half, took the crucial fifth penalty.

Oxford Mail:

  • Lewis Brownhill celebrates scoring the winning penalty with goalkeeper Matt Hyslop

The midfielder, who played in Manchester City’s youth set-up as a schoolboy, admitted he did not know too much about the opponents until afterwards.

“I’m from Manchester so I didn’t realise who the players were until I checked them the following morning,” he said.

“Players like Danny Rose and Sean Rigg have played 30-odd games this season and you could tell they had a bit about them.

“I think in the first 20 minutes a few of our lads were playing the occasion a bit, but it settled down.

“It was just a great performance from the lads.”

Several of Kidlington’s line-up, including Tommy Castle and twins Ben and Chris Weedon, lost 4-0 in the final to United three years ago.

They will now have the chance to put Kidlington’s name on the trophy for the first time.

It could yet be an all-Hellenic League showpiece, with Ardley United taking on Oxford City in the second semi-final, held at Thame tonight.